Greta Thunberg fined after being charged over climate protests

Hours later, the climate change activist was involved in another protest blocking the road for oil trucks in Malmö harbour before she was carried away by police.

"I believe that we are in an emergency that threatens life, health and property," she told the court in Malmö on Monday.

She added: "It's correct that I was at that place on that day, and it's correct that I received an order that I didn't listen to, but I want to deny the crime."

In June, the rally - organised by environmental activist group Ta tillbaka framtiden (Reclaim the Future) - tried to block the entrance and exit to the Malmö harbour in protest against the use of fossil fuels.

At the time, Thunberg said in an Instagram post: "We choose to not be bystanders, and instead physically stop the fossil fuel infrastructure. We are reclaiming the future."

Group spokesperson Irma Kjellstrom told AFP news agency: "If the court chooses to see our action as a crime it may do so, but we know we have the right to live and the fossil fuels industry stands in the way of that."

Aged 15, Thunberg began skipping school every Friday to stage solo climate protests outside the Swedish parliament in Stockholm.

She gained support for her blunt speeches on the future of young people due to the climate crisis.

Her court appearance comes after a statue of Thunberg was removed from outside the University of Winchester’s West Down Centre.

It has been reported that the sculpture is going to be moved and re-installed in a less-visited courtyard located near the building.

Anti-social behaviour against the carving has been noted as a particular problem on campus.

The structure has now become slightly unstable, leading the UK’s 96th ranked university to relocate the statue.

The statue of the climate change campaigner was unveiled in 2021.