Editor's note: In 2019, some people and their stories sparked heated discussions across the world. Our editor has picked five names that grabbed lasting attention and left impacts in some way. Let's take a look.

Greta Thunberg

Earlier this month, Swedish climate change activist Greta Thunberg was named Time magazine's Person of the Year for 2019.

Time editor-in-chief Edward Felsenthal said Thunberg had become "the biggest voice on the biggest issue facing the planet — and the avatar of a broader generational shift in our culture".

For the 16-year-old, this is not her first time to be featured on the cover of Time magazine. In May this year, the magazine named her a "next generation leader" and noted that many see her as a role model.

Thunberg first became known for her activism in August 2018 when she started to spend her school days outside the Swedish parliament holding up a sign in Swedish saying "School strike for the climate" to call for stronger action on global warming.

Not long after, other students engaged in similar protests in their own communities, and together they organized a school climate strike movement under the name "Fridays for Future".

The Swedish girl's campaigning has gained international recognition. As of August, students taking part in school strikes reached 3.6 million people across 169 countries.