Greta Thunberg, a 16-year-old Swedish climate activist, has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. (Photo: Anders Hellberg/Effekt)
Mar 14, 2019
Greta Thunberg, the 16-year-old whose protests outside the Swedish parliament spurred a massive global movement of young people striking from school to demand bold action on the climate crisis, has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.
"We have nominated Greta because the climate threat may be one of the most important causes of war and conflict."
--Freddy Andre Oevstegaard, Norwegian lawmaker
"We have nominated Greta because the climate threat may be one of the most important causes of war and conflict," Freddy Andre Oevstegaard, a parliamentary representative in Norway, told Norwegian newspaper VG.
Oevstegaard is one of the three Socialist Left Party members who nominated Thunberg. As he put it, "The massive movement Greta has set in motion is a very important peace contribution."
The Norwegian Nobel Committee will announce its latest laureates in October, and those selected will receive their prizes in December. While nominations must be submitted before February 1, news that Thunberg is being considered broke Wednesday.
Thunberg responded on social media by saying she is "honored and very grateful for this nomination."
Her nomination was welcomed by peace and environmental advocates around the world:
\u201cWe are certain that Greta would rather have government action on the sixth mass extinction than the Nobel Peace Prize should they win. That said, they can have both if we all #FridaysForFuture #ClimateStrike until government acts: https://t.co/pnOA1LXvFo\nhttps://t.co/WuVpkQNJLz\u201d— Extinction Rebellion (@Extinction Rebellion) 1552554008
\u201cTo those wondering what the climate has to do w/peace, consider how many future military conflicts & humanitarian crises will result from serious climate change (land, water, food, migration/refugees). So, reducing that change would reduce that violence. https://t.co/WxELRdpfuN\u201d— Christian Christensen (@Christian Christensen) 1552511520
\u201c\ud83c\udf0d \n\nCongratulations Greta! \n\nI hope that you will be awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace.\n\nAnd that you will then lobby for a new annual #NobelPrize for #ClimateChange.\n\nRT\n\n@GretaThunberg nominated for Nobel peace prize: \n\nhttps://t.co/qRmctqrxLI\n\n#FridaysForFuture #15MARCH\u201d— Alexander Verbeek \ud83c\udf0d (@Alexander Verbeek \ud83c\udf0d) 1552563280
Thunberg's #FridaysForFuture strikes started last fall with solitary protests urging Swedish lawmakers to crack down on the use of fossil fuels, but her refusal to attend school--inspired by American teens who organized for stricter gun laws after a mass shooting at their Florida high school--catalyzed youth climate strikes across the globe.
"The idea was to sit outside the Swedish parliament for three weeks. I think the timing and the concept must have been right," she toldNew Scientist Thursday. For her, the takeaway isn't the fact that children are protesting, but why young people have taken to the streets: "They talk about our age, our looks and so on. The emissions are still rising and that is all that matters. Nothing has happened, that is crucial to remember."
As the movement has grown, so has Thunberg's prominence as a powerful voice demanding more urgent climate action from world leaders. In less than a year, she has addressed crowds of thousands at demonstrations across Europe, delivered a TEDx Talk that's been viewed over a million times, rubbed elbows with United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, and even called out the Davos elite to their faces.
News of Thunberg's nomination comes as hundreds of thousands of students worldwide prepare for the #SchoolStrike4Climate on Friday. So far, more than 1,600 protests have been planned in over 100 countries. Find out how you can get involved.
\u201c1659 places in 105 countries. And counting. \nTomorrow we schoolstrike for our future. And we will continue to do so for as long as it takes. \nAdults are more than welcome to join us. \nUnite behind the science.\u201d— Greta Thunberg (@Greta Thunberg) 1552542874
Join Us: News for people demanding a better world
Common Dreams is powered by optimists who believe in the power of informed and engaged citizens to ignite and enact change to make the world a better place. We're hundreds of thousands strong, but every single supporter makes the difference. Your contribution supports this bold media model—free, independent, and dedicated to reporting the facts every day. Stand with us in the fight for economic equality, social justice, human rights, and a more sustainable future. As a people-powered nonprofit news outlet, we cover the issues the corporate media never will. |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
cop24davosextinction rebellionfridaysforfuturegreta thunbergnobel peace prizenobel prizenorwaypeople powersweden
Greta Thunberg, the 16-year-old whose protests outside the Swedish parliament spurred a massive global movement of young people striking from school to demand bold action on the climate crisis, has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.
"We have nominated Greta because the climate threat may be one of the most important causes of war and conflict."
--Freddy Andre Oevstegaard, Norwegian lawmaker
"We have nominated Greta because the climate threat may be one of the most important causes of war and conflict," Freddy Andre Oevstegaard, a parliamentary representative in Norway, told Norwegian newspaper VG.
Oevstegaard is one of the three Socialist Left Party members who nominated Thunberg. As he put it, "The massive movement Greta has set in motion is a very important peace contribution."
The Norwegian Nobel Committee will announce its latest laureates in October, and those selected will receive their prizes in December. While nominations must be submitted before February 1, news that Thunberg is being considered broke Wednesday.
Thunberg responded on social media by saying she is "honored and very grateful for this nomination."
Her nomination was welcomed by peace and environmental advocates around the world:
\u201cWe are certain that Greta would rather have government action on the sixth mass extinction than the Nobel Peace Prize should they win. That said, they can have both if we all #FridaysForFuture #ClimateStrike until government acts: https://t.co/pnOA1LXvFo\nhttps://t.co/WuVpkQNJLz\u201d— Extinction Rebellion (@Extinction Rebellion) 1552554008
\u201cTo those wondering what the climate has to do w/peace, consider how many future military conflicts & humanitarian crises will result from serious climate change (land, water, food, migration/refugees). So, reducing that change would reduce that violence. https://t.co/WxELRdpfuN\u201d— Christian Christensen (@Christian Christensen) 1552511520
\u201c\ud83c\udf0d \n\nCongratulations Greta! \n\nI hope that you will be awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace.\n\nAnd that you will then lobby for a new annual #NobelPrize for #ClimateChange.\n\nRT\n\n@GretaThunberg nominated for Nobel peace prize: \n\nhttps://t.co/qRmctqrxLI\n\n#FridaysForFuture #15MARCH\u201d— Alexander Verbeek \ud83c\udf0d (@Alexander Verbeek \ud83c\udf0d) 1552563280
Thunberg's #FridaysForFuture strikes started last fall with solitary protests urging Swedish lawmakers to crack down on the use of fossil fuels, but her refusal to attend school--inspired by American teens who organized for stricter gun laws after a mass shooting at their Florida high school--catalyzed youth climate strikes across the globe.
"The idea was to sit outside the Swedish parliament for three weeks. I think the timing and the concept must have been right," she toldNew Scientist Thursday. For her, the takeaway isn't the fact that children are protesting, but why young people have taken to the streets: "They talk about our age, our looks and so on. The emissions are still rising and that is all that matters. Nothing has happened, that is crucial to remember."
As the movement has grown, so has Thunberg's prominence as a powerful voice demanding more urgent climate action from world leaders. In less than a year, she has addressed crowds of thousands at demonstrations across Europe, delivered a TEDx Talk that's been viewed over a million times, rubbed elbows with United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, and even called out the Davos elite to their faces.
News of Thunberg's nomination comes as hundreds of thousands of students worldwide prepare for the #SchoolStrike4Climate on Friday. So far, more than 1,600 protests have been planned in over 100 countries. Find out how you can get involved.
\u201c1659 places in 105 countries. And counting. \nTomorrow we schoolstrike for our future. And we will continue to do so for as long as it takes. \nAdults are more than welcome to join us. \nUnite behind the science.\u201d— Greta Thunberg (@Greta Thunberg) 1552542874
Greta Thunberg, the 16-year-old whose protests outside the Swedish parliament spurred a massive global movement of young people striking from school to demand bold action on the climate crisis, has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.
"We have nominated Greta because the climate threat may be one of the most important causes of war and conflict."
--Freddy Andre Oevstegaard, Norwegian lawmaker
"We have nominated Greta because the climate threat may be one of the most important causes of war and conflict," Freddy Andre Oevstegaard, a parliamentary representative in Norway, told Norwegian newspaper VG.
Oevstegaard is one of the three Socialist Left Party members who nominated Thunberg. As he put it, "The massive movement Greta has set in motion is a very important peace contribution."
The Norwegian Nobel Committee will announce its latest laureates in October, and those selected will receive their prizes in December. While nominations must be submitted before February 1, news that Thunberg is being considered broke Wednesday.
Thunberg responded on social media by saying she is "honored and very grateful for this nomination."
Her nomination was welcomed by peace and environmental advocates around the world:
\u201cWe are certain that Greta would rather have government action on the sixth mass extinction than the Nobel Peace Prize should they win. That said, they can have both if we all #FridaysForFuture #ClimateStrike until government acts: https://t.co/pnOA1LXvFo\nhttps://t.co/WuVpkQNJLz\u201d— Extinction Rebellion (@Extinction Rebellion) 1552554008
\u201cTo those wondering what the climate has to do w/peace, consider how many future military conflicts & humanitarian crises will result from serious climate change (land, water, food, migration/refugees). So, reducing that change would reduce that violence. https://t.co/WxELRdpfuN\u201d— Christian Christensen (@Christian Christensen) 1552511520
\u201c\ud83c\udf0d \n\nCongratulations Greta! \n\nI hope that you will be awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace.\n\nAnd that you will then lobby for a new annual #NobelPrize for #ClimateChange.\n\nRT\n\n@GretaThunberg nominated for Nobel peace prize: \n\nhttps://t.co/qRmctqrxLI\n\n#FridaysForFuture #15MARCH\u201d— Alexander Verbeek \ud83c\udf0d (@Alexander Verbeek \ud83c\udf0d) 1552563280
Thunberg's #FridaysForFuture strikes started last fall with solitary protests urging Swedish lawmakers to crack down on the use of fossil fuels, but her refusal to attend school--inspired by American teens who organized for stricter gun laws after a mass shooting at their Florida high school--catalyzed youth climate strikes across the globe.
"The idea was to sit outside the Swedish parliament for three weeks. I think the timing and the concept must have been right," she toldNew Scientist Thursday. For her, the takeaway isn't the fact that children are protesting, but why young people have taken to the streets: "They talk about our age, our looks and so on. The emissions are still rising and that is all that matters. Nothing has happened, that is crucial to remember."
As the movement has grown, so has Thunberg's prominence as a powerful voice demanding more urgent climate action from world leaders. In less than a year, she has addressed crowds of thousands at demonstrations across Europe, delivered a TEDx Talk that's been viewed over a million times, rubbed elbows with United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, and even called out the Davos elite to their faces.
News of Thunberg's nomination comes as hundreds of thousands of students worldwide prepare for the #SchoolStrike4Climate on Friday. So far, more than 1,600 protests have been planned in over 100 countries. Find out how you can get involved.
\u201c1659 places in 105 countries. And counting. \nTomorrow we schoolstrike for our future. And we will continue to do so for as long as it takes. \nAdults are more than welcome to join us. \nUnite behind the science.\u201d— Greta Thunberg (@Greta Thunberg) 1552542874
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.