Greta Thunberg named ‘Game Changer of the Year’ by GQ

'We all deserve this award because together we have accomplished so much'

(AFP/Getty Images)

Greta Thunberg has been named “Game Changer of the Year” by GQ Magazine.

The 16-year-old environmentalist will receive the award, which was created especially for her, in London on Tuesday evening at the publication’s annual awards ceremony that celebrates achievements in popular culture, politics and activism.

The Swedish teenager has risen to fame thanks to her pioneering climate change activism, which hit the headlines last year when her decision to go on strike from school to raise awareness for environmental issues inspired 1.6 million others around the world to do the same.

The movement Thunberg started is now known as #FridaysForFuture in reference to Thunberg’s decision to continue going on strike from school every Friday until the Swedish government takes action on climate change.

Speaking about the GQ Award, Thunberg said: "I am very grateful and this award is for everyone in the Fridays For Future movement, everyone whose school is striking for the climate.

“We all deserve this award because together we have accomplished so much. So thank you to everyone who has been school striking as well.”

Dylan Jones, editor of GQ, added: “The Game Changer Award was created for Greta Thunberg. Her fearless dedication to raising awareness of the global climate change crisis makes her the absolute embodiment of this award and on behalf of GQ we couldn’t be prouder to celebrate her at the upcoming GQ Men of the Year Awards.”

In an interview with the publication, the Nobel Peace Prize nominee explained how she would broach a conversation with President Trump regarding his decision to pull the US out of the Paris climate agreement.

“I don’t think I would say anything to him, because he’s obviously not listening to the science and the scientists and the experts,” Thunberg said.

(Christopher Hunt/GQ (Christopher Hunt/GQ)

“So what could I say to change his mind? I would say that we need a movement to do this together, because one person can’t change his mind. We need to do that together."