A Nobel for Thunberg? In the age of climate change and virus, it is possible

By Gwladys Fouche

 

FILE PHOTO: Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg holds a poster reading "School strike for Climate" as she protests in front of the Swedish Parliament Riksdagen, in Stockholm, Sweden, September 4, 2020. Sep. Fredrik Sandberg/TT News Agency/via REUTERS/File Photo

 

OSLO (Reuters) - This year's Nobel Peace Prize could go to green campaigner Greta Thunberg and the Fridays for Future movement to highlight the link between environmental damage and the threat to peace and security, some experts say.

 

The winner of the $1 million prize, arguably the world's top accolade, will be announced in Oslo on Oct. 9 from a field of 318 candidates. The prize can be split up to three ways.

 

The Swedish 17-year-old was nominated by three Norwegian lawmakers and two Swedish parliamentarians and if she wins, she would receive it at the same age as Pakistan's Malala Yousafzai, the youngest Nobel laureate thus far.

 

Asle Sveen, a historian and author of several books about the prize, said Thunberg would be a strong candidate for this year's award, her second nomination in as many years, with the U.S. West Coast wildfires and rising temperatures in the Arctic "leaving people in no doubt" about global warming.

 

"Not a single person has done more to get the world to focus on climate change than her," Sveen told Reuters.

 

The committee has given the prize to environmentalists before, starting with Kenya's Wangari Maathai in 2004 for her campaign to plant 30 million trees across Africa, and in 2007 to Al Gore and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

 

In the era of the coronavirus crisis, the committee could also choose to highlight the threat of pandemics to peace and security, said Dan Smith, the director of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.

 

"There is a relationship between environmental damage and our increasing problem with pandemics and I wonder whether the Nobel Peace Prize Committee might want to highlight that," he told Reuters.

 

If the committee wanted to highlight this trend, he said, "there is obviously the temptation of Greta Thunberg".

 

The Fridays for Future movement started in 2018 when Thunberg began a school strike in Sweden to push for action on climate. It has since become a global protest.

 

Thunberg and her father Svante, who sometimes handles media queries for her, did not reply to requests for comment.

 

Graphic of Nobel laureates: http://tmsnrt.rs/2y6ATVW

 

Many were sceptical when Greta, as she is often referred to, became the bookmaker's favourite to win last year's Nobel Peace Prize, especially with regards to her age, but her second nomination could strengthen her chances.

 

The Irish betting agency Paddy Power has the World Health Organization (WHO) as its favourite at odds of 5/2, followed by Thunberg at 3/1 and New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern at 5/1.

 

"Greta is re-nominated, which was the case for Malala. I said Malala was young when she was nominated the first time and I said Greta was young the first time she was nominated," Sveen said.

 

Yousafzai won in 2014.

 

NOT TRUMP

 

Other known candidates included the "people of Hong Kong", NATO, Julian Assange, Chelsea Manning and Edward Snowden and jailed Saudi activist Loujain al-Hathloul.

 

Other possible choices are Reporters Without Borders, Angela Merkel and the WHO, experts said, though it is unclear whether they are nominated.

 

Nominations are secret for 50 years but those who nominate can choose to publicise their choices. Thousands of people are eligible to nominate, including members of parliaments and governments, university professors and past laureates.

 

It is not known whether Donald Trump is nominated for this year's prize, though he is up for next year's award after a Norwegian lawmaker named the U.S. President for helping broker a deal between Israel and the United Arab Emirates.

 

He is unlikely to win, Sveen and Smith agreed, not least for his dismantling of the international treaties to limit the proliferation of nuclear weapons, a cause dear to Nobel committees.

 

"He is divisive and seems to not take a clear stance against the violence the right-wing perpetrates in the U.S.," said Smith.

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-09-17

 

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I’m glad I bought popcorn today.

Is the prettier German girl nominated ?

Losing is so easy for Trump. 

16 minutes ago, CorpusChristie said:

Is the prettier German girl nominated ?

On what basis, being pretty?

This would bring out the climate change denialists in droves, all choking on their morning coffee.

3 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

This would bring out the climate change denialists in droves, all choking on their morning coffee.

Let them enjoy their coffee while they can:

https://time.com/5318245/coffee-industry-climate-change/

This is a wind up surely...?

1 hour ago, Chomper Higgot said:

On what basis, being pretty?

Personal preference , I suppose 

35 minutes ago, Brunolem said:

 

<snip>

This Nobel prize is a disgrace... anyone with some self-respect would want to avoid being associated to such a bunch of criminals...

 

As for climate change, what has that got to do with peace? 

Lol, that's why Trump practically nominated himself.

 

When consequences of climate change  get worse it no doubt will lead to unrest worldwide. So yes, it certainly does affect peace.

Uh ho I fear a tweet storm a coming poor Donald losing out to a teenager and a girl no less lol a little side note I was glad I could tell my dad before he passed that Malala had won he was delighted a truly courageous young lady I hope Greta wins I’d be delighted lol

The title should be "In the age of wokeness it is possible". Another prize that has lost it's meaning, to the same garbage bin with the Oscars. 

Edited September 17, 20205 yr by DrTuner

4 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

On what basis, being pretty?

No. Giving a non left wing extremist view of an interglacial age phenomenon.

1 hour ago, Nout said:

No. Giving a non left wing extremist view of an interglacial age phenomenon.

Warming rebound from the interglacial period ended about 8000 years ago. Until the industrial revolution the average global temperature had actually been declining.

1 hour ago, Nout said:

The ME has been riddled with strife without climate change as has Africa. Hate and war don't need a reason for some people.

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/climate-change-hastened-the-syrian-war/

Off-topic posts and replies removed. 

 

'You haf taken away my childhood' I like Greta. Gutsy and a straight talker. Not sure she deserves it but we all know who she is and what she's after and I can't think of others of a similar ilk. Sometimes the most intense people get the message through. Nice to see a scientist get it who works out smart ways to actually achieve climate outcomes and at the same time  can help the poorer and richer economies to cope and grow and lead to a stronger peace.  

 Dunno why she's so popular. Isn't a great orator, doesn't have much of a realistic plan, & justs seems to be a crybaby.

 

And before some of you lefties prattle on about 'old fat white men being triggered by a 17 year old girl'....if you really think that, then clearly you - as always, take the simple route.

 

Off topic post reported and removed along with reply. 

 

Well if your choice was either Tunberg or Trump, what then? 

 

Hopefully there is other candidates our there. 

5 minutes ago, nakornpingpong said:

Actually she set 2030 as a deadline.

I came across a bunch of different statements she has made to adoring journalists, all with different deadlines.

It's almost as if she is saying whatever feels most dramatic in the moment.

 

1 minute ago, Poet said:

I came across a bunch of different statements she has made to adoring journalists, all with different deadlines.

It's almost as if she is saying whatever feels most dramatic in the moment.

 

She said 8 years because the carbon budget allotted by the IPCC is being consumed faster than predicted.

“With today’s emissions levels, the remaining budget is gone in less than eight years. These aren’t anyone’s views. This is the science,” Thunberg said. The numbers were cited from the International Panel on Climate Change’s 2018 damning report about the scale of the climate crisis."

The point is that what she says is in agreement with the IPCC. She isn't just saying whatever she feels like. 

2 hours ago, faraday said:

 Dunno why she's so popular. Isn't a great orator, doesn't have much of a realistic plan, & justs seems to be a crybaby.

 

And before some of you lefties prattle on about 'old fat white men being triggered by a 17 year old girl'....if you really think that, then clearly you - as always, take the simple route.

 

Good morning Faraday.

 

This explain that for you sir.

 

https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/people/why-is-greta-thunberg-so-triggering-for-certain-men-1.4002264

 

13 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Other known candidates included Julian Assange

 

I hope both win. They best two farang in world IMO. 

Both speak truth, recieve criticism for it.

Brave and honest.

 

Good luck Greta and Julian!

1 minute ago, Yinn said:

Good morning Faraday.

 

This explain that for you sir.

 

https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/people/why-is-greta-thunberg-so-triggering-for-certain-men-1.4002264

Again some nice examples of that in this thread.

 

Back on topic, since greta is the topic and not manmade climate change denial, she stands for something and is taking on a big part of the world. Kudos. Imo she would deserve it.

better give it to her quick. she won't be needed anymore after November 3rd

Yes for Greta.  Makes more sense than Bob Dylan.  (Yes, I know it wasn't the same prize.)

It seems everything has been covered except the topic.   Numerous posts removed for being off-topic, debating on how to debate, trolling and posting unsourced, nonsensical graphs that have nothing to do with the topic. 

 

1 hour ago, LennyW said:

She is nothing more than a spoon fed mouthpiece, maybe the award should be to those that actually come up with the the words she repeats.

Evidence for that? She has repeatedly demonstrated a detailed knowledge of the issues when confronted by opponents. All you've got is name-calling.

1 hour ago, GeorgeCross said:

better give it to her quick. she won't be needed anymore after November 3rd

All her claims are scientifically backed. So the IPCC was created back in the 20th century to make Donald Trump a 1 term president?

15 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

I said Malala was young when she was nominated the first time and I said Greta was young the first time she was nominated," Sveen said.

I nominate Sveen for the Nobel Perception Prize