Greta Thunberg announced as first winner of the Gulbenkian Prize for Humanity
The first edition of the Gulbenkian Prize for Humanity has been awarded to Greta Thunberg, for her key role in worldwide environmental activism and leadership in the fight against climate change.
The Gulbenkian Prize for Humanity, awarded annually, aims to recognise people, or organisations, from all over the world whose contributions to the mitigation and adaptation to climate change stand out for their innovation and impact. Jorge Sampaio, Chair of the Grand Jury of the Prize, emphasised the consensus of this choice and pointed out “the way Greta Thunberg has been able to mobilize younger generations for the cause of climate change and her tenacious struggle to alter a status quo that persists, makes her one of the most remarkable figures of our days”.
The President of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, Isabel Mota, illustrated that “By awarding this Prize, the Foundation highlights its commitment to urgent climate action, fostering communities that are more resilient and better prepared for future global changes, while also protecting, in particular, the most vulnerable”. The prize is one of a number awarded by the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, and constitutes a small part of the 41% of EFC members who currently award prizes as part of their work.
Thunberg’s foundation has announced it will donate the €1 million award money to charitable projects combating the climate and ecological crisis, and to organisations supporting people facing the worst impacts, particularly in the Global South.