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The Power of Youth

TIME

It’s been a big year for teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg. In September, she addressed world leaders at the United Nations Climate Action Summit and rallied some 7 million people worldwide in a global climate strike. Now, she’s been named TIME’s 2019 Person of the Year.

“Thunberg has become the biggest voice on the biggest issue facing the planet,” TIME editor in chief Edward Felsenthal wrote, explaining why TIME editors picked her.

TIME has awarded the honor each year since 1927. Just 16 years old when she was chosen, Greta is the youngest-ever Person of the Year. “Wow, this is unbelievable!,” the Swedish teen wrote on Twitter after hearing the news. She added that she shares the honor with climate activists everywhere.