Teenage activist Greta Thunberg, who has relentlessly campaigned against climate change, has been nominated for the Nobel peace prize.
Last year, the 16-year-old from Sweden stopped going to school on Fridays and instead, led a solitary protest outside Swedish parliament buildings, pressuring the government to pass legislation to reduce carbon emissions.
She has since addressed world leaders at the COP24 United Nations climate chance summit and the World Economic Forum. And, in February this year, encouraged students throughout Europe to skip school to join protests demanding faster action on climate change.
Three Norwegian politicians have since said they believe the massive movement Thunberg has set in motion “is a very important peace contribution”, which is why they nominated her for the prize.
Norwegian politician Freddy Andre Øvstegård said he, alongside Lars Haltbrekken and Mona Fagerås, nominated Thunberg because climate change will be one of the “leading causes of conflict” ahead. “The mass movement she initiated with her school strike is an important peace contribution,” he tweeted.
Thunberg took to Twitter to say she was “honoured and very grateful” for the nomination.
After Thunberg tweeted the news, she was met with hundreds of comments praising her work. “Now here is a worthy nomination,” tweeted Peter Hodgson. “Congratulations Greta.”
Matthew Todd wrote: “It’s the least you deserve. I am so, so, so grateful for what you are doing, I can’t put it into words. Thank you.”
Any national politician can nominate someone for the Nobel peace prize. The Norwegian Nobel committee doesn’t publicly comment on nominations, which had to be submitted by 1 February 2019.
Last year, two people were jointly awarded the Nobel peace prize: Congolese gynaecologist Denis Mukwege, who treated thousands of rape victims, and Nadia Murad, who was sold into sex slavery by Isis.
The committee said at the time: “They have both put their own personal security at risk by courageously combatting war crimes and securing justice for victims.”