SWEDISH schoolgirl Greta Thunberg has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for her “major contribution to peace” after she started the global climate strike protest movement against environmental damage.

The 16-year-old who shot to prominence after a speech at last year’s United Climate Change Conference in Poland was nominated by Norwegian socialist MPs for the prestigious award.

“We have proposed Greta Thunberg because if we do nothing to halt climate change it will be the cause of wars, conflict and refugees,” Norwegian Socialist Left Party MP Freddy Andre Ovstegard said.

“Greta Thunberg has launched a mass movement which I see as a major contribution to peace,” he added.

The climate change activist was just 15 when she started her protests as she camped outside the Swedish parliament every day during school hours with the sign “skolstrejk for klimatet” (school strike for the climate).

Her actions inspired similar protests across the world and an estimated 20,000 have taken part in protests in 270 cities.