Licypriya Kangujam from Manipur is gaining prominence in the realm of climate activism seeking a greener tomorrow. At just 12 years old, this young activist from Northeast India has captured the world’s attention with her commitment to addressing the global climate crisis.
Born in 2011, Licypriya Kangujam embarked on her journey as a climate activist at a remarkably early age. Her passion for environmental issues began to surface, and she quickly became a vocal advocate for climate action. Licypriya’s dedication to raising awareness about the detrimental impacts of climate change is truly inspiring, considering her tender age.
Licypriya Kangujam has addressed world leaders at the 2019 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Madrid, Spain, asking them to take immediate climate action. She 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.
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 meeting the people giving speeches. It was a life-changing event.”
“My heart feels sore for people who cannot help themselves when disaster strikes,” she added.
Licypriya founded the ‘Child Movement’ soon after to raise awareness, urging protection of the planet by tackling climate change and natural disasters.
On December 11, 2023, she staged a bold protest at the United Nations Climate Conference 2023 (COP28) in Dubai. She took the stage at the event, holding a sign that read: “End fossil fuels. Save our planet and our future.” The 12-year-old dynamo delivered a poignant speech against the use of fossil fuels, earning applause from the audience before being escorted away.
This act of defiance did not go unnoticed, as Licypriya Kangujam later revealed that she was detained for over 30 minutes following her protest. Undeterred, she took to social media, sharing a video of the event on Twitter and expressing her views on the “unjust detention”. In her post, she highlighted the need to phase out fossil fuels, emphasizing their role as a primary contributor to the current climate crisis.
Licypriya Kangujam has been actively moving from place to place to create awareness about climate change. Her tireless efforts to promote climate action have taken her to various forums and events where she has consistently advocated for sustainable practices and policies.
At 10, Licypriya Kangujam had set up a store in Delhi where used-plastics act as the currency. The barter shop enabled residents to exchange single-use plastic for items like rice, school stationery or a sapling.
“Plastic money shop was just an idea and a long dream project for me when I thought to eliminate single use plastics in India. I bought the cart as second hand in 2020 to convert into a pure solar-run vehicle to develop this project. Finally, my dream turns into a reality,” Licypriya Kangujam’s Facebook page had announced. The page was then managed by her mother.
“This is the last wall we have!”, a villager told me. 😢
Sundarbans Island has already 'lost 110 square kilometres of mangroves in the last two decades'. Slowly, their lands, homes and other wildlife habitats are submerging inside the sea. Last year after Cyclone Yaas, over… pic.twitter.com/160ekR31wF
— Licypriya Kangujam (@LicypriyaK) May 25, 2023
Earlier, Licypriya Kangujam was in news for highlighting plastic pollution near the Taj Mahal in Agra. She took on herself to clean the garbage dump, sharing before-after photographs of her work, advocating others to take up similar initiatives.
As the world grapples with the urgency of climate action, these voices remind us that everyone, regardless of age, has a role to play in shaping a sustainable future.
