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Climate change activist Greta Thunberg has won an award known as the ‘Alternative Nobel’ for her environmental work.
The Right Livelihood awards were launched in 1980, after proposals by a Swedish-German philanthropist to create an environmental Nobel Prize was rejected.
‘Inspiring’
Award judges said they recognized the 16-year-old for her efforts and success in ‘inspiring and amplifying political demands for urgent climate action reflecting scientific facts’.
Thunberg – along with three other recipients – will receive 1,000,000 Swedish krona (£83,000) in a ceremony in Stockholm on December 4.
The other winners are Guo Jianmei of China and Aminatou Haidar of Western Sahara. The fourth prize is jointly awarded to Davi Kopenawa and the Hutukara Yanomami Association of Brazil.
‘Practical visionaries’
Ole von Uexkull, executive director of the Right Livelihood Foundation, said: “With the 2019 Right Livelihood award, we honor four practical visionaries whose leadership has empowered millions of people to defend their inalienable rights and to strive for a liveable future for all on planet Earth.”
“I’m deeply grateful for being one of the recipients of this great honor,” said Thunberg, in response to the news.
“But of course, it is not me who is the winner. I am part of a global movement of school children, youth and adults of all ages who have decided to act in defence of our living planet. I share this award with them.”
Thunberg has also been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, the winner of which will be announced next month.
