At only sixteen years old, Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg became the youngest Time “Person of the Year” ever. When announcing her nomination, the magazine’s editor-in-chief Edward Felsenthal said: “She became the biggest voice on the biggest issue facing the planet this year, coming from essentially nowhere to lead a worldwide movement.”
Thunberg reacted with a tweet that read: “Wow, this is unbelievable! I share this great honour with everyone in the #FridaysForFuture movement and climate activists everywhere. #climatestrike.”
It would be hard to think of anyone worthier of receiving Time Magazine’s recognition than Greta. Through sheer willpower, constancy, and dedication, she has become one of the greatest environmental leaders the world has ever seen, spreading a simple message – that we are in the midst of a global climate emergency and that it is up to all of us to act and put an end to it – and making sure that world leaders hear it.
She only started making headlines last year, when she started skipping school on Fridays and holding protests outside the parliament building in her home country. Her sign, which read “Skolstrejk för klimatet” (school strike for climate) soon went viral, leading to the movement called Fridays for Future.
@gretathunberg
From then on, her face became a mainstay in global media, the ultimate symbol of “the power of youth” in this time of environmental crisis. Through her activism, she speaks for the millions of young people around the world who see that the decisions of those older than them are killing the planet, and are determined to fight climate change before the world that they will inherit is damaged beyond repair.
Who can forget her iconic speech at the UN Climate Conference in September, to which she arrived after making a two-week catamaran journey across the Atlantic, where she spoke directly at world leaders and said, “You have stolen my dreams and my childhood with your empty words.” Her strong, clear message and the outraged expression in her face communicated perfectly that she wanted no more empty speeches and ideas from leaders: the time for action is now.
@gretathunberg
In her photo on Time’s cover, Greta looks completely calm, almost stoic, and impossibly strong for someone so tiny and young. But she is that strong, and her time as one of this era’s most inspiring and influential leaders is only beginning.
