Licypriya Kangujam

Licypriya Kangujam is a child environmental activist from India. She is one of the youngest climate activists globally and has addressed world leaders at the United Nations Climate Conference 2019 (COP25) in Madrid, Spain asking them to take immediate climate actions. Licypriya has been campaigning for climate action in India since 2018, to pass new laws to curb India's high pollution levels, and to make climate-change literacy mandatory in schools.[2][3][4][5]

Licypriya Kangujam
Licypriya Kangujam at the United Nations Asia-Pacific Climate Week 2019 in Bangkok, Thailand on 5 September 2019.
Born
Licypriya Kangujam

(2011-10-02) 2 October 2011
Bashikhong, Manipur, India
OccupationStudent,environmental activist
Years active2018–present
Known forRising Voice to Combat Climate Change
MovementThe Child Movement
Parent(s)
  • Bidyarani Devi Kangujam Ongbi (mother)
  • KK Singh (father)
RelativesChinglensana Kangujam (uncle)
Awards
  • Dr A.P.J Abdul Kalam Children Award (2019)
  • World Children's Peace Prize (2019)
  • Rising Star of Earth Day Network (2019)
  • Global Child Prodigy Award (2020)
  • Noble Citizen Award (2020)
  • TN Khoshoo Memorial Award (2020)
  • National Youth Day Award of Bharat Seva Samvad (2021)
  • CNN News18 Water Heroes Award (2021)
  • Forbes India 30 Under 30 Special Mentions (2021)

She has been regarded as India's Greta Thunberg, though she does not like the usage of this term.[6]

Licypriya started advocating against climate change in July 2018.[7] On 21 June 2019 inspired by the climate activist Greta Thunberg, Licypriya started spending a week outside the Indian parliament House to draw the attention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to pass a climate change law in India. On 31 August 2019, Licypriya received the "World Children Peace Prize 2019" handed over by Mr.Charles Allen, Director of Partnerships of Global Peace Index – Institute of Economics & Peace (IEP), Australia in an event organized by the Regional Alliance of Fostering Youth and Ministry of Youth Sports and Community Empowerment, Government of Maldives. She was also honored with the title "Rising Star" by the Earth Day Network headquarters based in Washington, D.C., USA.[8][9][10]

On 19 November 2019, she received the "SDGs Ambassador Award 2019" at Chandigarh University by Dainik Bhaskar in collaboration with NITI Aayog, Government of India. Licypriya also received the "Global Child Prodigy Award 2020" on 3 January 2020 in New Delhi by Lieutenant Governor of Pondicherry Kiran Bedi.[11] On 18 February 2020 she addressed the TEDxSBSC held in University of Delhi, New Delhi, India. On 23 February 2020 she addressed the TEDxGateway held in Mumbai and received a standing ovation for her speech.[12][13][14][15]

Life

Licypriya Kangujam was born on 2 October 2011 in Bashikhong, Manipur, India, the eldest daughter of KK Singh and Bidyarani Devi Kangujam Ongbi. Kangujam began raising her voice to combat climate change and disaster risk reduction, when she was seven. In June 2019, she protested in front of the Parliament House of India addressing the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi to enact the climate change law in India.[16][17][18][19]

2018–2019 activism
Kangujam addressing UNESCO Partners' Forum 2019 (Biennial Luanda) in Angola on 20 September 2019.

Visits to Mongolia

In 2018, Licypriya attended a UN disaster conference in Mongolia along with her father. This inspired her to get involved in activism. In an article in the BBC News she stated "I got lots of inspiration and new knowledge from the people giving speeches. It was a life-changing event." Licypriya founded the "Child Movement" soon after the event to raise awareness to protect the planet by tackling climate change and natural disasters.[8]

Visits to Africa

Kangujam attended the UNESCO Partners' Forum 2019 (Biennial Luanda) in Luanda City, Angola invited by UNESCO, African Union & Government of Angola. She addressed on climate change along with President of Angola João Lourenço, President of Mali Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta, President of Malawi Hage Geingob, President of Republic of the Congo Denis Sassou Nguesso, First Lady of Angola Ana Dias Lourenço, First Lady of Namibia Monica Geingos, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate 2018 Denis Mukwege, UNESCO Director General Audrey Azoulay, Deputy Prime Minister of Guinea Francois Fall and all Culture Ministers of Africa.[20][21][22][23]

Kerala Flood 2018

Licypriya donated her savings of Rupees 100,000 to the Chief Minister of Kerala Pinarayi Vijayan on 24 August 2018 to help the flood victim children of Kerala Massive Flood. Two years later she received the acknowledgement letter from the Kerala Government.[24]

Licypriya's donation to the Chief Minister supported their work in protecting children hit by the flood. She felt her small contribution would help make a difference to the children during the tough time.

Great October March 2019

On 21 October 2019, Licypriya started the "Great October March 2019" at India Gate, New Delhi with nearly thousands of her supporters. The Great October March took place from 21 to 27 October in various locations to request immediate action on climate change and to enact the climate law in India.[8][25][26]

Survival Kit for the Future

Licypriya brought out a symbolic device called SUKIFU (Survival Kit for the Future) to curb the air pollution on 4 October 2019. SUKIFU is an almost zero budget kit designed from trash to provide fresh air to breathe when pollution is bad. This wearable plant is a recognition of the Green Movement for air pollution. Anybody can build up this concept at home from the recycling trash to instill fresh air directly into our lungs. She launched it in front of the Punjab & Haryana Legislative Assembly House as a symbol of demonstration before the oath taking ceremony of newly elected Haryana MLAs & Ministers. She draws the attention of the leaders to find urgent solution for the current crisis of air pollution in Delhi & National Capital Region.[27][28]

In an interview given to The Northeast Today, she said "This is the ultimate solution. Whoever, carry this, especially the children moving on the popular street laced with SMOG, would attract the attention of the climate experts, pollution control board members, scientists, policy makers, city/municipal commissioners and the entire generation, who are bound to ensure 'Safe Future' to their 'Generation Next'. This type of pollution is not acceptable by any standards." "I was inspired by the Chih Chiu’s ‘Voyage on the planet‘. This invention sends a poignant message about environmental degradation and questions the planet's unknown future and environmental depletion", she added. Licypriya said to the Shillong Times, "Governments are busy in blaming each other instead of finding a long term solutions on the deadly air pollution. Children are unable to go out of the home in Delhi. All schools have been shut down by the Government. They must act now otherwise our future will be dying."[29]

Further she added that the project is inspired by the air pollution problem in Delhi, and that she doesn't want its message to only be about the environment. Instead, it's about the same adaptability that caused her to come forward with a mission, the qualities of resilience that it takes to survive now and in the future. In SUKIFU, a potted plant is housed inside a clear backpack (rucksack) hooked up to one tube to funnel fresh air into a face mask. It's a bold, abstract take on an oxygen tank. The transparent rucksack contains a plant, which connects to breathing apparatus. Another hole in the downside supply the natural fresh air inside the tank through four layers of activated carbon. The plant symbolises our dying environment and our planet due to human beings. No chemicals or electricity is used in this device.

She developed the model with the support of Chandan Ghosh, professor at Indian Institute of Technology Jammu (IIT). Ghosh said to The Tribune, "Many areas in Delhi recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 999, beyond which reading is not possible, on Diwali night. The prescribed normal limit is 60. I am concerned about the health of children and infants. This concept speaks to the fragility of the environment, and our own vulnerability. Licypriya is sending a strong message to everyone destroying our future. According to a WHO survey of 1600 world cities, air pollution in India is estimated to kill 1.5 million people every year; it is the fifth largest killer in India. India has the world's highest death rate from chronic respiratory diseases and asthma. In Delhi, poor quality air irreversibly damages the lungs of 2.2 million or 50 percent of all children. Now India needs a long term solution to save the health of the people specially children and our environment."[30]

COP25
Licypriya Kangujam with UN Secretary General António Guterres at the United Nations Climate Change Conference 2019 (COP25) in Madrid, Spain on 12 December 2019.

Licypriya Kangujam addressed at COP25 urging the world leaders to act now on climate change. The United Nations Climate Conference was held to discuss the international action on climate change. 26,000 people from 196 countries attended this event. The event was held from 2 December to 13 December at IFEMA, Madrid, Spain, hosted by Government of Chile with the logistics support Of Government of Spain under the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change).[31]

Kangujam met the UN Secretary-General during The UN Climate Change Conference COP25 and submitted a memorandum "on behalf of the children of the world." The memorandum stated that she wants to create a better place for all children of the world. She was praised by the UN Secretary-General António Guterres. Greta Thunberg and several other global leaders participated during the event. [32]

2020 activism

World Economic Forum 2020

In 2020 Licypriya published a letter to the participants at the World Economic Forum with activists Greta Thunberg, Luisa Neubauer, Isabelle Axelsson, and Loukina Tille, calling on companies, banks and governments to immediately stop subsidizing fossil fuels. In an opinion piece given to The Guardian they said, "We don't want these things done by 2050, 2030 or even 2021, we want this done now – as in right now. We call upon the world’s leaders to stop investing in the fossil fuel economy that is at the very heart of this planetary crisis. Instead, they should invest their money in existing sustainable technologies, research and in restoring nature. Short-term profit should not trump long-term stability of life."[33][34]

Campaign for teaching climate change in schools

She has been campaigning to make lessons in climate change mandatory in schools and as per her request the government of Gujarat has included climate change in school education.[35]

Earth Day 2020

In 2020 Licypriya addressed the gatherings globally on Earth Day 2020 at Washington, D.C., United States. The event was virtual, due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. She featured with 50 other global leaders, influencers, celebrities, athletes and musicians including Pope Francis, Sylvia Earle, Denis Hayes, Bill McKibben, Global Advisory Committee Member Albert II (Price of Monaco), Alexandria Villaseñor, Al Gore, Patricia Espinosa, Christiana Figueres, Michelle Dilhara, Jerome Foster II, John Kerry, Thomas Lovejoy, Ed Begley Jr., Zac Efron, Anil Kapoor, Van Jones, Ricky Keij, Paul Nicklen and Alex Honnold, giving a message of hope to fight the ongoing climate crisis.[36][37]

References
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