“It is not me who is the winner.”
Greta Thunberg has been awarded the ‘Right Livelihood Award’ or as it is otherwise known, the ‘Alternative Nobel’ for her work in climate change activism.
The 16-year-old Swedish activist received the award today following last week’s incredibly successful FridaysForFuture global strikes.
The group said that the teenager had been honoured with the prize, along with three other recipients, for her “inspiring and amplifying political demands for urgent climate action reflecting scientific facts.”
“Thunberg is the powerful voice of a young generation that will have to bear the consequences of today’s political failure to stop climate change,” they said.
The 2019 #RightLivelihoodAward goes to…
➡️ @AminatouHaidar 🇪🇭
➡️ Guo Jianmei 🇨🇳
➡️ @GretaThunberg 🇸🇪
➡️ Davi Kopenawa /Hutukara #Yanomami Association 🇧🇷Join us to celebrate their incredible achievement! ➡️ https://t.co/j8KzVceNOF#AlternativeNobel pic.twitter.com/qykCYAFubD
— Right Livelihood (@rightlivelihood) September 25, 2019
“Her resolve to not put up with the looming climate disaster has inspired millions of peers to also raise their voices and demand immediate climate action.”
Thunberg began her climate change campaign last August, when she was one of the only people protesting outside Swedish government buildings.
She has since inspired an entire generation of young people to skip school and strike for their futures.
Thunberg said she was “deeply grateful” to receive the award.
“But of course, whenever I receive an award, it is not me who is the winner,” she said.
“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.
“The Right Livelihood Award is a huge recognition for Fridays For Future and the climate strike movement. Thank you so very much!”
Other recipients of the award include Davi Kopenawa and the Hutukara Yanomami Association, Moroccan activist Aminatou Haidar, and Chinese lawyer Guo Jianmei.
Each of the winners will receive one million kronor.
