Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg issued a warning to world leaders at a protest in the Swiss city of Lausanne on Friday, days before the start of the Davos summit of the world's political and business elites.

"So far during this decade we are seeing no sign whatsoever that real climate action is coming," the 17-year-old eco-warrior said to a rock-star welcome from the mostly teenage crowd.

Greta Thunberg told world leaders "you haven't seen anything yet" as she spoke to a climate protest crowd in Lausanne
Greta Thunberg told world leaders "you haven't seen anything yet" as she spoke to a climate protest crowd in Lausanne AFP / STEFAN WERMUTH

"That has to change," she told several thousand protesters, adding in a message to world leaders: "This is just the beginning. You haven't seen anything yet. We assure you of that!".

Thunberg is due to address the summit in the Swiss Alpine resort town of Davos next week with a call on governments and financial institutions to stop investing in fossil fuels.

Teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg joins protesters at a march in Lausanne
Teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg joins protesters at a march in Lausanne AFPTV / Eloi ROUYER

Friday's carnival-like protest brought the cobbled streets of the Lausanne city centre to a standstill, with demonstrators calling for urgent climate action and booing as they passed a branch of Credit Suisse, which campaigners criticise for its fossil fuel investments.

"One, two, three degrees! It's a crime against humanity!" they chanted, while a group at the head of the march held up a banner saying: "Let's Change The System, Not the Climate".

Some of the young protesters took inspiration from the latest extreme weather events around the world.

In her speech at Davos next week, Thunberg has said she will call on governments and financial institutions to stop investing in fossil fuels
In her speech at Davos next week, Thunberg has said she will call on governments and financial institutions to stop investing in fossil fuels AFP / Fabrice COFFRINI

One held up a soft toy koala with a sign around his neck reading simply "HELP" -- a reference to the bushfires that have ravaged Australia, while another brandished a cardboard sign reading "Wake Up and Smell the Bushfires".

"Fear for the glaciers", read another sign -- echoing concern among residents of the Alps about the rapidly shrinking mountain ice formations due to climate change.

"There Is No Planet B", "I Have a Green Dream" and "We Want A Cooler Planet", read some of the other signs.

Klimastreik Schweiz, who organised the march, said on Twitter that 15,000 people were taking part.

"We're here to show the governments and the people and the media and everyone that we're not happy with the situation as it is," said 17-year-old Deborah Hausser, one of the protesters.

Thunberg is taking part in the Davos summit for the second time and will be one of the main attractions at the annual meeting, alongside US President Donald Trump.

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