Teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg has refused to accept an environmental award until politicians stop “bragging” about environmental issues and make a significant commitment to tackling the climate crisis.
The 16-year-old was named the winner of the Nordic Council’s Environment Award – but turned it down, saying “the climate movement does not need any more awards”.
In a post on Instagram, Thunberg – who is currently travelling through California – said it was a “huge honour” to win the award.
But politicians and people in power must focus on the science around climate change, not awards, she wrote.
“The Nordic countries have a great reputation around the world when it comes to climate and environmental issues,” Thunberg said.
“There is no lack of bragging about this. There is no lack of beautiful words. But when it comes to our actual emissions and our ecological footprints per capita - if we include our consumption, our imports as well as aviation and shipping - then it’s a whole other story.”
In Sweden, people live as if “we had about four planets”, she continued, saying it was a trend seen across the Nordic region. The gap between the action scientists say is needed to limit the increase in global temperature and what politicians in these countries have pledged to do is “gigantic”.
Thunberg added: “We belong to the countries that have the possibility to do the most. And yet our countries still basically do nothing.
“So until you start to act in accordance with what the science says is needed to limit the global temperature rise below 1.5 degrees or even 2 degrees celsius, I - and Fridays For Future in Sweden - choose not to accept the Nordic Council’s environmental award nor the prize money of 500 000 Swedish kronor.”
The award is the latest in a series of recognitions for the teenage activist. Last week, a scientist named a newly-discovered species of beetle after Thunberg, saying he wanted to “acknowledge her outstanding contribution in raising awareness of environmental issues”.