Teen Climate Change Activist Greta Thunberg Is Time's Youngest Ever "Person Of The Year"
Language
Reading Level
Listen to Article
Time Inc.'s "Person of the Year" tradition began in 1927, when the magazine commemorated 25-year-old aviator Charles Lindbergh for the first nonstop solo flight across the Atlantic Ocean. Though the media franchise has since recognized several young people for their global influence, it has never given the important distinction to a teenager. But then again, few teens are as passionate about their mission as 2019's "Person of The Year"— 16-year-old Swedish climate change activist Greta Thunberg.
Thunberg's rise to global prominence is even more stunning given that just over a year ago, she was a shy 15-year-old fretting about the looming threat of climate change. In August 2018, tired of the “refusal” of world leaders to take action, the young girl started camping out in front of the Swedish Parliament every Friday with a sign that said: “School Strike for Climate."
The teen's singular act of protest soon went viral, inspiring kids and adults worldwide to take action. By September 2018, her weekly strike became a global climate change movement called “Fridays for the Future," with tens of thousands of students skipping school on this day to protest the inaction of the leaders of their respective countries.
Her rally cry for progress also encouraged other young activists to begin their own climate change movements. They include 17-year-old Xiye Bastida in New York City, USA; 19-year-old Artemisa Xakriaba in Brasilia, Brazil; 17-year-old Vidit Baya in Udaipur, India; 16-year-old Howey Ou in Guilin, China, and many more. Varshini Prakash, co-founder of the US youth-led Sunrise Movement, says Thunberg "symbolizes the agony, the frustration, the desperation, the anger—at some level, the hope—of many young people who won't even be of age to vote by the time their futures are doomed."
The teenager, who has single-handedly helped bring climate change to the forefront of the global conversation, attributes her success to her Asperger’s syndrome. She says, “I see the world in black and white, and I don’t like compromising… If I were like everyone else, I would have continued on and not seen this crisis.”
Though Thunberg does not have a magical antidote for reversing climate change, she believes change can be affected at a grassroots level — by educating friends, being more selective about the companies you buy from, and electing officials that support the cause. In her address at the recently-held UN Climate Conference in Madrid, Spain, the young activist said, “In just three weeks, we will enter a new decade―a decade that will define our future. Right now, we are desperate for any sign of hope. Well, I’m telling you there is hope. I’ve seen it, but it does not come from the governments or corporations. It comes from the people.”
Resources: Time.com, CNN.com, Wired.com,USAtoday.com
Get the Workbook for this article!
Workbook contains: Article, Reading Comprehension, Critical Thinking Questions, Vocabulary in Context (+ answers), Multiple Choice Quiz (+ answers), Parts of Speech Quiz (+ answers), Vocabulary Game (+ answers)Cite Article
Learn Keywords in this Article
168 Comments
giggles_34almost 5 yearsGo, Greta! For only being 17 years old, what she does is amazing and she is so inspiring! I definitely believe that she deserved this!! I'm so happy for her! She is also very beautiful!
applesareguccialmost 5 yearsAlso Go GRETA!!!!!!- applesareguccialmost 5 yearsI think us kids are gonna make this place a much better place to live in
wings_of_firealmost 5 yearsGo Greta
momokichialmost 5 yearsyes. I thought we have to be more carefull to stop the global warming.
fate34almost 5 yearsIt's really inspirational to me that she doesn't wear makeup and she is completely natural. She is gorgeous.👌
dragonlove9almost 5 yearsGreta is so inspiring! Climate change is a bigger problem than most people think it is, and more people should take action like her! This is the only planet we have, and we should keep it safe like Greta is doing. YOU GO GIRL!!!
owlkalmost 5 yearsGo Greta
little_angel727almost 5 yearsThat girl rocks!! You totally deserve to be the person of the year and yes, I agree with you and people should start listening to you!!
dolphincornalmost 5 yearsI wish there were more people like Greta in this world. She is so inspiring!🌎🌏🌍
