Thunberg received the prize after being the awarded the inaugural Gulbenkian Prize for Humanity. Even when being honored Thunberg gives back to fight against climate change. (Image credit: Michael Campanella/The Guardian)
Greta Thunberg is one of the most inspiring figures in recent history. Her actions in the fight against climate change earned her the inaugural Gulbenkian Prize for Humanity, which includes 1 million euros ($1.14 million). Rather than keeping the prize, the 17-year-old will donate the money to organizations fighting against climate change.
In a video posted on Twitter, Thunberg reacted to the news saying, “I’m incredibly honored and extremely grateful … this means a lot to me, and I hope that it will help me do more good in the world.”
“All the prize money will be donated through my foundation to different organizations and projects who are working to help people on the front lines affected by the climate crisis and ecological crisis, especially in the Global South,” she went on to say. She added that the money would also “help organizations and projects who are fighting for a sustainable world and who are fighting to defend nature and the natural world.”
Breaking down the initial donations, Thunberg announced that 100,000 euros would be donated to the SOS Amazonia Campaign led by Fridays For Future Brazil, which is fighting against COVID-19 in the Amazon. Another 100,000 euros will go to the Stop Ecocide Foundation, which fights against the mass destruction of nature.
The Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation is a Portuguese philanthropic institution established in 1956. It’s “dedicated to the promotion of arts, charity, science, and education.” The foundation’s Gulbenkian Prize for Humanity aims to recognize changemakers who make unique, innovative, and impactful efforts to fight the climate crisis.
This isn’t the first time Thunberg has used her prize money for a greater cause. Back in April, after winning the Human Act Award, she donated the $100,000 prize money to UNICEF. The Human Act Award matched her donation with an additional $100,000.
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