Why Greta Thunberg deserves to win the Nobel Peace Prize 2020

Greta Thunberg is consistent in her efforts to curb climate change. Most Fridays she can be found outside Stockholm’s Parliament House, where she has been routinely raising awareness of the climate emergency since August 2018. But that’s just one of the reasons why the 17-year-old activist—and British Vogue cover star—has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize 2020.

Swedish politicians Jens Holm and Hakan Svenneling nominated Thunberg for the prestigious award because she “has worked hard to make politicians open their eyes to the climate crisis”, and the fact that “action for reducing our emissions and complying with the Paris Agreement is therefore also an act of making peace”. Note: the Nobel Committee invites qualified people to submit nominations.

It’s the second time that the Swedish activist has been nominated. Last year, the accolade went to Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, who won thanks to his successful efforts in helping to finally establish a peace with neighbouring Eritrea in the wake of a two decades-old conflict.

Thunberg has achieved much in 2019. Not only did she shun air travel (because of the damage the aviation industry wreaks on the environment) in favour of sailing across the Atlantic to attend a UN climate summit in the US, she also spearheaded a global climate change protest on September 20, 2019 that saw millions of people across the world uniting to demand urgent action from their governments. More than 1,700 strikes occurred in 150 countries across six continents.

“I’m here to change the way we look at the climate and ecological crisis, so that together we can put pressure on people in power to change things,” she told British Vogue in the September 2019 Forces For Change issue. “This year [2019], we have mobilised millions of young people around the world who have been school-striking for the right to a future,” she said. “There have been strikes on all continents, including Antarctica, which is incredible, and in more than 165 countries. We, together, are changing the debate.”

Thunberg has achieved what many activists can only dream of: her message is influencing younger generations in tangible ways. And if she is awarded the prize, she’ll become only the 18th woman in history to receive it. In its 118-year history, the prize has been awarded to 866 men. Since its inception in 1901, 54 women have been nominated. Thunberg is the same age as the youngest ever recipient of the prize, Malala Yousafzai.

Whether she is named the winner or not, there’s no doubt Thunberg will continue her inspirational efforts to pressure the world’s most powerful people to address the reality of the climate emergency. Her dispute with US President Donald Trump, for example, rumbles on: At the World Economic Forum in January, she criticised his decision to withdraw from the Paris Agreement. Will Thunberg be presented with the Nobel Peace Prize 2020? She deserves it.

This article was originally featured on Vogue.co.uk