David Suzuki awarded ‘alternative Nobel Prize’

STOCKHOLM, Sweden – It wasn’t the Nobel Peace Prize but this is one Scandinavian award Barack Obama won’t be claiming.

Sweden’s parliament honoured David Suzuki with the Right Livelihood Award on Tuesday, an international award also known as the alternative Nobel Prize, for his environmental work.

Suzuki was celebrated for his "lifetime advocacy of the socially responsible use of science, and for his massive contribution to raising awareness about the perils of climate change and building public support for policies to address it."

Coincidentally both the award and Suzuki are celebrating 30th anniversaries, the latter as host of CBC’s popular series The Nature of Things.

"For me, this award further recognizes the urgency of climate change and the need for global co-operation to solve one of the greatest challenges of our lifetime," Suzuki said.

He shares with three other recipients an award supporting those "offering practical and exemplary answers to the most urgent challenges facing us today."

The award ceremony in the Swedish Parliament will be held Dec. 4.