Greta Thunberg, the Swedish schoolgirl who inspired a global movement to fight climate change, has been named Time magazine's Person of the Year for 2019.
The 16-year-old is the youngest person to be chosen by the magazine in a tradition that started in 1927.
This Friday 13th I’m looking forward to joining the climate strike in Torino, Italy on my way back home! See you at Piazza Castello, Torino 15.00!#fridaysforfuture #climatestrike #schoolstrike4climate @F4F_Turin pic.twitter.com/rymxXbIr3L
— Greta Thunberg (@GretaThunberg) December 11, 2019
BBC News reports shortly before the announcement, she told a UN climate change summit in Madrid that the next decade would define the planet's future.
She urged world leaders to stop using "creative PR" to avoid real action.
"Almost nothing is being done apart from clever accounting and creative PR."
— AJ+ (@ajplus) December 11, 2019
Watch teen climate activist @GretaThunberg's mic-drop moment at #COP25. pic.twitter.com/2mgMmMkbFV
Last year, the teenager started an environmental protest outside the Swedish parliament building, sparking a worldwide movement that became popular with the hashtag #FridaysForFuture.
Since then, she has become a strong voice against climate change and an internationally recognised figure and, earlier this year, was nominated as a candidate for the Nobel Peace Prize.
BBC
