16-Yr-Old Who Mobilised Students for Climate Change, Nominated for Nobel Peace Price

We all are worried about the degrading climate condition, but how many of us are actually stepping forward and doing something for it? Well, Greta Thunberg for her effort to combat climate change was nominated for the Nobel peace prize by three Norwegian lawmakers on March 14. The announcement came just a day before when thousands of pupils across the world were anticipated to walk out in 1,659 towns in 105 countries. If she wins the Nobel Prize, she will become the youngest Nobel Prize recipient. As of now Malala Yousafzai, an education activist is the youngest Nobel Prize recipient

MP Freddy André Øvstegård, a Norwegian socialist said that they proposed Thunberg’s name because she launched a mass movement which they see as a major contribution to peace. Thunberg, the founder of ‘Youth Strike For Climate movement’, took to Twitter to express her happiness. She said, “I am honoured and very grateful for this nomination.” She further said that change is coming whether one likes it or not. University professors and national politicians can nominate a candidate for the Nobel peace prize, ceremony for which will be held in December.

What did she do?

In December 2018, Thunberg challenged the delegates for their negligence towards the degrading climatic condition. She said, “ You are not mature enough to tell it like it is – even that burden you leave to your children”, at UN Climate Change Conference in Poland.

The then 15-year-old drew the attention of mainstream media when she skipped school and sat on the steps of the Swedish parliament building for three weeks with a hand-painted sign that read “ skolstrejk för klimatet” (school strike for climate change)”. While she sat there, she demanded the government to address climate change.

Her move to skip school on Fridays demanding more action from authorities regarding global warming and climate change expanded. According to organisers, students from over 100 countries are likely or have already skipped classes in protest towards climate inaction. The students say that their governments have failed future generations by not cutting emissions and curbing global warming.

Reacting to this motivation some politicians have opposed it, however, Germany’s Angela Merkel and Ireland’s Leo Varadkar have supported the move. Mayors of Austin, Paris, Philadelphia, Oslo, Barcelona, Montreal, Milan, and Portland have also backed the movement. Anne Hidalgo, Mayor of Paris and chair of the C40 group of cities said that it is truly inspiring to see such a young mind demanding urgent climate action.

Also Read: Fight Against Climate Change: Germany To Shut Down All 84 Of Its Coal-Fired Power Plants By 2038