Licypriya Kangujam is an ideal of inspiration and determination. She is one of the youngest climate activists globally and has addressed world leaders at United Nations Climate Change Conference 2019 (COP25) in Madrid, Spain asking them to take immediate climate action and also part of the United Nations Climate Change Summit (COP27) from 6th nov-18th nov. She is an 11-year-old change-maker from Manipur and also a globally recognized climate activist who has already spoken in 32 countries. But unexpectedly, people in her own country do not know her. As once she was referred to as a “foreign tourist” by a Samajwadi Party leader while responding to Kangujam’s tweet highlighting clutter around the Taj Mahal. Soon, she responded saying. “Hello sir, I'm a proud Indian. I'm not a foreigner,” This shows how Licypriya Kangujam is a true Indian loyalist. She’s been making waves in nationwide environmental activism. Founder of The Child Movement, she had been conferred with prestigious accolades such as a Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Children Award, a World Children Peace Prize, and an India Peace Prize. Let’s talk about her story;
Since her birth, She attended various international conferences, meetings, seminars, and workshops with her father, who was also a local activist. We can say that social work, love, and care for the environment are in her blood as she helped her dad while fundraising to help victims of the giving away relief material and food items. "I cried when I saw children who had lost their parents and people who had become homeless," she said in an interview. She has visited many landslide areas as a child and thus believes that many of the root causes of such natural disasters lie in climate change.
In July 2018 she got an opportunity to attend the third Asia Ministerial Conference for Disaster Risks Reduction in Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia. She raised her voice in front of world leaders. It was a life-changing event for her. Just after this, she started an organization, The Child Movement, to call on world leaders to take immediate climate action to save our environment, planet, and future. She travels to raise her concerns about climate change. When she began this movement, she was alone but today she has thousands of supporters and well wishes across the globe. Her life is an inspiration for others but for Licypriya also her own life is an inspiration for her.
She also gives this aspiration, age doesn’t matter. She shares her belief that be it anyone big or small-they can still make a difference. She also sent out a strong message to our Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Parliament to pass the climate change law. She also believes that there should be a climate energy law that would help in controlling carbon emissions and other greenhouse gases. There is a need to add climate education in school systems and educate the young generation about climate change and its serve impacts on our earth. In fact the year 2020 became evidence of Kangujam's efforts. Rajasthan and Gujarat became one of the first states to implement climate education. In the capital, Delhi University made students plant 1 tree each to pass the final exams. Her great ambition and dreams are to see children breathe clean air and drink clean water. She said, “The greatest gift a parent can give to their kin isn't luxurious homes, expensive cars, or money, it is a beautiful green plant and a safe healthy future”.
The article was written by: Shaurya S
Newsletter Editor: Hasini LakshmiNarayanan
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