Thunberg addressed the United Nations Climate Action Summit in September. She testified before two committees of the U.S. House of Representatives. In the U.S., she took part in climate protests in Charlotte, N.C.; Denver; Iowa City; Los Angeles; and New York City. In Canada, she joined protests in Edmonton, Montreal, and Vancouver. She also joined school Climatestrikes on Fridays throughout her travels.

Thunberg was on her way to Chile, to attend the COP25 Climate Change Conference in Santiago. The U.N. decided the change venues for the December conference because of civil unrest in Chile. The new venue was announced as Madrid, in Spain. Thunberg, who refuses to fly in protest against carbon emissions, spoke out on Twitter for help. Answering were an Australian couple, Riley Whitelum and Elayna Carausu, who are sailing around the world with their baby, Lennon. Also onboard is professional yachtswoman Nikki Henderson.

The boat is La Vagabonde, and it is a 40-foot catamaran powered by solar panels and hydro generators. Thunberg had traveled across the Atlantic in August aboard the racing yacht Malizia II, a zero-emissions mode of travel also employing solar panels and hydro generators. One upgrade that this new boat has is an onboard toilet.

The conference runs December 2–13. Conditions in the Atlantic during this time of year are cold and not always conducive to sailing, but the crew aims to get Thunberg there for the start of the conference.