Greta Thunberg, the Swedish environmental activist, received a new humanitarian prize worth € 1 million.
The founder of the School Strike for Climate, 17, won the first Gulbenkian Prize for Humanity.
The judges described her as “one of the most notable figures of our day.”
Ms. Thunberg said she will donate the award money to charity projects that combat “the climate and ecological crisis.”
In addition to being named Time Magazine Person of the Year in 2019, Ms. Thunberg has been twice nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.
In response to the news, she said: “I am extremely honored to receive the Gulbenkian Prize for Humanity.
“We are in a climate emergency, and my foundation will donate all the million euro prize money as quickly as possible to support organizations and projects fighting for a sustainable world.”
The award, awarded each year, aims to “recognize people, groups of people and / or organizations around the world whose contributions to mitigation and adaptation to climate change stand out for their novelty, innovation and impact”.
The president of the grand jury of the award, Jorge Sampaio, applauded the ability of adolescents to mobilize the younger generation and added: “her tenacious fight to alter a status quo that persists, makes her one of the most notable figures of our days”.
The jury also highlighted his “charismatic and inspiring personality”.
The award is part of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, which was established in 1956. It is a Portuguese philanthropic institute “dedicated to the promotion of the arts, charity, science and education”.
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