Greta Thunberg, the Swedish teenager who became a global conscience for climate change and environmental activism, has been named Time’s Magazine’s Person of the Year, for 2019.
The magazine announced 16-year old Thunberg as its choice on Wednesday, making her the youngest choice ever to be named Person of the Year.
She has become the youngest person with the biggest voice on the biggest issue facing the planet this year.
At 15, she had several protest alone outside the Swedish parliament during school hours on Fridays, sparking a collective movement to fight climate change.
Her signature no-nonsense blunt style of speaking made her a force that could not be ignored by world leaders.
Thunberg heard about climate change at 8 years old and said she became instantly concerned about it.
Earlier this year, Thunberg, along with 15 other young climate activists, filed a legal complaint with the United Nations against five countries under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child alleging the nations are not doing enough to combat climate change and that their inaction is affecting their right to thrive.
Her efforts also earned her a nomination for the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize.
The other 2019 finalists for Time’s Person of the Year were House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, President Donald Trump, The Hong Kong Protesters, and the anonymous whistleblower whose memo on Trump’s dealings with Ukraine triggered the impeachment inquiry.
