In 2019, Greta Thunberg was given a Right Livelihood Award (an accolade known as the “alternative Nobel Prize”), making her the youngest recipient. Now, it has been revealed that the teenage climate activist will use the prize money to set up a new non-profit organisation.
The one million Swedish krona ($100,000) reward, given by the Sweden-based Right Livelihood Foundation, will be used by Thunberg to set up the Greta Thunberg Foundation.
Thunberg first announced a foundation late last month (January 29), in an Instagram post saying: “The foundation’s aim will be to promote ecological, climatic and social sustainability as well as mental health.”
She also said that it is: “something that is needed for handling money (book royalties, donations, prize money etc) in a completely transparent way.”
“In addition to the prize money, the Award also comes with long-term support,” adds Ole von Uexkull, Executive Director of the Right Livelihood Foundation, in a statement posted February 20. “We promise to support Thunberg and her new foundation in every way we can to fight for ecological and social sustainability.”
Thunberg was also nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2019, in recognition of her activism related to the climate crisis, which will also feature in a new documentary series with the BBC.