Climate activist Greta Thunberg has been nominated for the 2020 Nobel Peace Prize by two Swedish lawmakers.
Thunberg, 17, captured global attention for leading a student strike in her home country of Sweden to raise awareness about climate change. Jens Holm and Hakan Svenneling, both members of Sweden’s Left Party, argued that Thunberg’s international tour to combat climate change is worthy of the 2020 Nobel Peace Prize.
In nominating Thunberg, Holm and Svenneling said the teenager had “worked hard to make politicians open their eyes to the climate crisis.” They argued that reducing emissions and complying with the Paris Agreement is “an act of making peace.”
President Trump pulled the United States from the Paris Climate Accords because he felt the deal was unfair to Americans. Trump, 73, has mocked Thunberg’s global efforts and told her she needs to “chill” and “go to a movie.”
Thunberg received the Right Livelihood Award, also known as the “Alternative Nobel,” in 2019 and was named Time’s “Person of the Year.” The teenager also spoke before the United Nations and the World Economic Forum, where she made the case that nations must switch to a zero-emissions power grid immediately to prevent catastrophic climate change.
The Nobel Peace Prize is awarded in October, but final nominations were due Feb. 1.
