Meet Licypriya Kangujam, The Indian Climate Activist

Recently, Licypriya Kangujam, an Indian climate activist from Manipur called the media out for calling her "India's Greta Thunberg." The eight-year-old tweeted, "Dear Media, Stop calling me “Greta of India”. I am not doing my activism to look like Greta Thunberg. Yes, she is one of our Inspiration & great influencer. We have a common goal but I have my own identity, story. I began my movement since July 2018 even before Greta started."

Read Also: Author Mridula Ramesh On How Climate Change Is Fatal for Women

Here are some inspiring facts about Licypriya Kangujam:

• Licypriya started raising her voice against Climate change and disaster risk reduction when she was just seven. She recently tweeted, "I first raised my voice to world leaders in Mongolia in a UN event on July 4, 2018."
• Kangujam also protested in front of the Parliament House. She requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to implement the climate change law in India.

"I first raised my voice to world leaders in Mongolia in a UN event on July 4, 2018."

• She also visited Angola in September 2019 where she began a climate strike. The strike took place in Luanda City and children and youth joined her.
• The activist also addressed the issue of climate change at  UNESCO Partners' Forum 2019 (Biennial Luanda) in Luanda City along with many others.
• Licypriya started the Great October March 2019 at the India gate. Thousands of followers joined her. The march took place at various locations from  21 to 27 October 2019. Licypriya and her followers demanded immediate action on climate change and to implement climate law in India.

" We are marching to call on world leaders to enact climate law as soon as possible so that it can regulate the emissions of greenhouse gases to save our planet and our future. "

•  In an interview with the newspaper Pragativadi, Kangujam stated that "Until today, only 5 countries viz. New Zealand, Australia, UK, Mexico & Peru have their legislation on climate change but 98% are not yet including India." She further added " We are marching to call on world leaders to enact climate law as soon as possible so that it can regulate the emissions of greenhouse gases to save our planet and our future. " She also said, "They must unite and act now before it's too late."
• Licypriya also participated at COP25 where she was the youngest speaker. At the event, She urged the world leaders to act now on climate change.  UN Secretary-General António Guterres also complemented her after her speech.
• Along with activists Greta Thunberg, Luisa Neubauer, Isabelle Axelsson, and Loukina Tille, Licypriya published a letter to the participants of the World Economic Forum 2020. The letter called out companies, banks, and governments to immediately stop subsidizing fossil fuels.
• Seven-year-old Licypriya dropped out of school to protest in front of the parliament every week. She started a movement called “Child Movement”. In Hindi, she called it “Bachpan Andolan” to call the world leaders to take immediate climate action.

Read also: Greta Thunberg’s Message To PM Modi: Climate Change Serious

Image Credit: The Wire

Mansi is an Intern at SheThePeople.TV