This archive report was first published on 11 December 2019.
On December 11, 2019, Time magazine announced Greta Thunberg as its Person of the Year, recognizing her dedication to climate activism.
Thunberg, just 16 at the time, had already gained international attention for her solo protest against global warming outside Sweden's parliament in 2018.
"We can't just continue living as if there was no tomorrow, because there is a tomorrow. That is all we are saying," Thunberg told Time in an interview aboard her sailboat, which had taken her from the United States to Europe after a hectic 11-week North American trip.
Thunberg's message, simple yet powerful, has resonated with millions worldwide: "listen to the scientists". She has accused global decision-makers of inaction, calling for urgent change to combat runaway global warming.
As the award was announced, Thunberg was in Madrid attending a UN climate forum, where she continued to push for climate action.
