Greta 16, on the global stage again

Time magazine has released its annual list of the world’s most influential people. Under the category of leaders – next to people like Donald Trump, Xi Jinping and Benjamin Netanyahu – Swedish student and environment activist Greta Thunberg is found.

Small, shy, survivor of crippling depression, Greta Thunberg, the 16-year-old Swedish girl skipping school to shame the world into addressing climate change, drew a parade of fans one Friday in February on a frozen square in Stockholm.

She has spoken for the UN Climate Panel, at the UN Climate meeting and she has had bilaterals with Angela Merkel, Marcron, UN Secretary General Guterres and even The Pope.

In its motivation, the TIME magazine compares, among other things, Greta’s involvement with the civil rights movement in the US during the 60s and 70s.

“Climate change is part of our reality, and young activists like Greta do everything in their power to prevent this by demanding a change,” the newspaper writes.

TIME:

“Greta Thunberg saw her power in us, and we in turn see our power in her. Fighting in her home country, Sweden, for a future free from pollution, environmental degradation and climate change, Greta is inspiring steadfast students and shaming apathetic adults”.