Greta Thunberg nominated for Nobel Peace Prize

Teen climate activist Greta Thunberg has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for a second year in a row. 

According to The Associated Press, two lawmakers from Sweden, Jens Holm and Hakan Svenneling, announced they had nominated the 17-year-old on Monday, citing her global climate activism.

The two lawmakers said Thunberg “has worked hard to make politicians open their eyes to the climate crisis,” adding that “action for reducing our emissions and complying with the Paris Agreement is therefore also an act of making peace,” the news agency reports. 

The deadline to submit nominations for the prestigious honor was Sunday. 

Thunberg, whose “Fridays for Future” school strike movement has helped spark similar youth-led climate demonstrations across the globe, was first nominated for the honor last year by a group of Norwegian Parliament members.

For many oddsmakers, Thunberg was the favorite to win the honor last year, but it wound up going to Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.

Critics had expressed doubt about Thunberg’s chances of winning the award, citing her age and lack of formal qualifications. 

If Thunberg succeeds this year, she would be the first to receive the award for efforts addressing climate change since former Vice President Al Gore won in 2007.

She would also join Malala Yousafzai, who received a Nobel Prize at age 17, in becoming the youngest Nobel laureate.