Almost 40 Laureates sign Greta Thunberg’s letter to EU leaders

Almost 40 Right Livelihood Laureates have signed an open letter written by 2019 Laureate Greta Thunberg calling on leaders of the European Union to start treating climate change as the real crisis it is.

Leaders of the EU’s 27 member states are set to hold meetings on Friday and Saturday to discuss the bloc’s 2021-2027 budget. Prioritising spending on green investment during this period will be key to halting the climate crisis.

In the letter, Thunberg and other youth climate activists urge EU leaders to take immediate action, including halting all fossil fuel investments and subsidies, divesting from fossil fuels and establishing annual, binding carbon budgets based on the best available science.

Right Livelihood Laureates supporting Thunberg’s initiative include Bill McKibben, David Suzuki, Sima Samar, Frances Moore Lappé​, Helen Mack Chang, Jacqueline Moudeina, Walden Bello and Daniel Ellsberg.

The petition has been signed by more than 2,000 individuals and organisations such as education activist Malala Yousafzai, actor Leonardo di Caprio and author Naomi Klein.

Right Livelihood Laureates signing the letter:

1. Bill McKibben, Founder, 350.org
2. David Suzuki, Climate Activist
3. Dr. Ruchama Marton,​ Founder and President of Physicians for Human Rights
4. János Vargha​, Hungarian Biologist and Photographer
5. Prof. Dr. Raúl A. Montenegro​, President of Fundación para la defensa del ambiente
6. Dr. Vandana Shiva​, Indian Scholar and Environmental Activist
7. Prof. Dr. Anwar Faza​l, Director of the Right Livelihood College
8. András Biró​, Hungarian Journalist
9. Nnimmo Bassey​, Nigerian Architect, Health of Mother Earth Foundation
10. Angie Zelter​, Trident Ploughshares
11. Dr. Monika Hauser​, Founder of Medica Mondiale
12. Dr. Sima Samar​, Chairperson Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission
13. Basil Fernando​, Asian Human Rights Commission
14. Martín von Hildebrand​, Founder and Director of Fundación GAIA Amazonas
15. Frances Moore Lappé​, Co-Founder Small Planet Institute
16. Tony Rinaudo​, Agronomist, World Vision
17. Hunter Lovins​, Natural Capitalism Solutions
18. Dr. Paul F. Walker​, Director, Environmental Security and Sustainability, Green Cross International
19. Alyn Ware, ​Peace Activist
20. Helen Mack Chang, Fundación Myrna Mack
21. Siila Watt-Cloutier, Canadian Inuit Human Rights and Environmental Activist
22. Dr. Maude Barlow, National Chairperson, Council of Canadians
23. Walden Bello, Filipino Human Rights and Environmental Campaigner
24. Daniel Ellsberg, US Economist and Human Rights Activist
25. John F. C. Turner, British Architect
26. Juan Pablo Orrego, President, Ecosistemas
27. Nicanor Perlas, Center for Alternative Development Initiatives
28. Prof. Dr. Theo van Boven, Dutch Human Rights Activist
29. Bianca Jagger, Founder, President and Chief Executive, Bianca Jagger Human Rights Foundation
30. Jacqueline Moudeina, Chadian Lawyer and Human Rights Activist
31. Khadija Ismayilova, Azerbaijani Investigative Journalist
32. Alice Tepper Marlin, President and Founder, Social Accountability International
33. GRAIN
34. International Baby Food Action Network
35. P K Raveendran, Kerala Sastra Sahitya Parishad (KSSP)
36. Pat Mooney, Co-Founder, ETC Group
37. Sulak Sivaraksa, Founder and Director, Sathirakoses-Nagapradeepa Foundation
38. Aminatou Haidar, Sahrawi Human Rights Activist