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Greta Thunberg Has Been Named As TIME's 2019 Person Of The Year

Greta Thunberg Has Been Named As TIME's 2019 Person Of The Year

The 16-year-old Swedish climate activist has been dubbed 'the power of youth'

Rebecca Shepherd

Rebecca Shepherd

Greta Thunberg has been named as TIME's Person Of The Year for 2019 after inspiring millions of people across the globe.

In what seems like a short space of time, the 16-year-old has shot to fame with her fierce UN Summit speech going viral as she ripped into world leaders.

And although it may feel like the Swedish activist cemented a name for herself rather quickly, she's been demanding action for much longer.

In an article that explained why Thunberg has been named as the Person of the Year, Edward Felsenthal, TIME's editor-in-chief wrote: "When she first heard about global warming as an eight-year-old, Thunberg says she thought, 'That can't be happening, because if that were happening, then the politicians would be taking care of it'.

"That they weren't is precisely what motivated her to act, as it has youth the world over who are forcing us to confront the peril of our own inaction, from the student-led protests on the streets of Santiago, Chile, to the young democracy activists fighting for rights and representation in Hong Kong to the high schoolers from Parkland, Fla., whose march against gun violence Thunberg cites as an inspiration for her climate strikes."

Greta Thunberg speaks at the climate march on the sidelines of the fifth day of the UN Climate Change Conference.
PA

Thunberg is the youngest individual ever named TIME's Person of the Year, with Felsenthal going on to outline: "Thunberg demands action, and though far too many key measures are still moving in the wrong direction, there are nascent signs that action is coming.

"Corporate commitments to sustainable growth and net-zero emissions are on the rise. More than 60 countries have pledged to have a net carbon footprint of zero by 2050. American primary voters, especially in states beset by wildfires and flooding, are suddenly giving presidential candidates an earful on climate change.

"In Austria's September elections, the Green Party more than tripled its support at the expense of the Social Democrats, a development a leader of the Social Democrats attributed to Thunberg - just before he resigned. Even as China burns half the world's coal, it too is changing. It's now home to roughly 45 percent of the electric cars and 99 percent of the electric buses in the world."

If it wasn't already obvious why she's been named Person of the Year, it probably is now. Congrats on the much deserved recognition, Greta.

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: Greta Thunberg, News