Greta Thunberg wins Sweden's 'Alternative Nobel Prize' for demanding urgent climate action: 'It is not me who is the winner'
The Right Livelihood Award, which is also known as the Alternative Nobel Prize announced on Wednesday, September 25, that 16-year-old Greta Thunberg, will receive the one million Swedish kronor ($1,03,000) award for her crusade to save the planet.
The teen broke the internet by scolding world leaders for failing to stop climate change at the United Nations Climate Action Summit and later silently glared at President Donald Trump as he addressed reporters.
The Swedish prize foundation said that Thunberg was one among four winners of the prestigious prize and was being honored "for inspiring and amplifying political demands for urgent climate action reflecting scientific facts" and for "personifying the notion that everyone has the power to create change."
"Her example has inspired and empowered people from all walks of life to demand political action," the foundation added, according to a Daily Mail report.
Thunberg responded to news of her being awarded the prize by saying, "I'm deeply grateful for being one of the recipients of this great honor. But of course, whenever I receive an award, it is not me who is the winner."
She added, "I am part of a global movement of school children, youth and adults of all ages who have decided to act in defense of our living planet."
She further said that the award "is a huge recognition for [school strike movement] Fridays For Future and the climate strike movement."
The teen is also being considered for the Nobel Peace Prize. Six days before the Nobel prizes are handed out, an award ceremony is planned in Stockholm on December 4. However, Thunberg is unlikely to attend the ceremony as she plans to be in Chile for a climate summit at the time.
The 16-year-old, who refuses to fly for environmental reasons and arrived at New York for the summit last month after a two-week journey by yacht confronted leaders present in the room and asked, "How dare you?"
"You have stolen my dreams, my childhood with your empty words. Yet I'm one of the lucky ones. People are suffering, people are dying, entire ecosystems are collapsing, and all you can talk about is money and fairy tales of eternal economic growth. How dare you?"