Licypriya Kangujam | |
|---|---|
 Licypriya Kangujam at the United Nations Asia-Pacific Climate Week 2019 in Bangkok, Thailand on 5 September 2019. | |
| Born | Licypriya Kangujam 2 October 2011 |
| Occupation(s) | Student, environmental activist |
| Years active | 2018–present |
| Parents |
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| Relatives | Chinglensana Kangujam (uncle) |
| Awards |
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Licypriya Kangujam (Meitei language: ꯂꯤꯁꯤꯄ꯭ꯔꯤꯌꯥ ꯀꯥꯡꯉꯨꯖꯝ, IPA: [lisipɾija kaŋŋud͡ʒɐm]; born 2 October 2011) is a child environmental activist from India.[2] One of the youngest climate activists globally, she addressed world leaders at the 2019 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Madrid, Spain, asking them to take immediate climate action. 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.[3][4][5][6][7] She has been regarded as India's Greta Thunberg, though she does not like the usage of this term.[8]
Licypriya started advocating against climate change in July 2018.[9] On 21 June 2019, inspired by 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.[10][11][12][13]
Licypriya Kangujam was born on 2 October 2011 in Bashikhong, Manipur, India, the eldest daughter of Kanarjit Kangujam and Bidyarani Devi Kangujam Ongbi,[14] in a family of Meitei ethnicity.[15] When she was seven,[16] she began raising her voice to combat climate change and disaster risk reduction.
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 to raise awareness, urging protection of the planet by tackling climate change and natural disasters.[17]
Licypriya donated her savings of Rupees 100,000 to the Chief Minister of Kerala Pinarayi Vijayan on 24 August 2018 to help the child victims of the massive 2018 Kerala floods. Two years later she received an acknowledgement letter from the Kerala government.[18]
Licypriya's donation to the Chief Minister supported work to protect children hit by the flood. She felt her small contribution would help make a difference during a tough time.
Licypriaya attended the UNESCO Partners' Forum 2019 (Biennial Luanda) in Luanda, Angola, invited by UNESCO, the African Union and the government of Angola. She spoke on climate change along with Angolan President João Lourenço, Mali President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta, Malawi President Hage Geingob, President of the Republic of the Congo Denis Sassou Nguesso, First Lady of Angola Ana Dias Lourenço, First Lady of Namibia Monica Geingos, 2018 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Denis Mukwege, UNESCO Director General Audrey Azoulay, Deputy Prime Minister of Guinea François Lonseny Fall and culture ministers of Africa.[19][20][21][22]
On 4 October 2019, Licypriya brought out a symbolic device called SUKIFU (Survival Kit for the Future) to curb air pollution. 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 by recycling trash to instill fresh air directly into the lungs. Licypriya launched it in front of the Punjab and Haryana Legislative Assembly House. She drew the attention of the leaders to find urgent solutions to address the crisis of air pollution in the Delhi and National Capital Region.[23][24] "[25]
She added that although the project is inspired by the air pollution in Delhi, she doesn't want its message to only be about the environment. Instead, she said, it's about the same adaptability that caused her to come forward with a mission, with the qualities of resilience that it takes to survive now and in the future. She developed the model with the support of Chandan Ghosh, professor at Indian Institute of Technology Jammu (IIT).[26]
On 21 October 2019, Licypriya started the "Great October March 2019" at India Gate, New Delhi with thousands of her supporters. The march took place from 21 to 27 October in various locations to request immediate action on climate change and to enact a climate law in India.[17][27][28]
Licypriya spoke at the 2019 United Nations Climate Change Conference, also known as COP25, urging world leaders to act now on climate change. 26,000 people from 196 countries attended this event. It was held from 2 December to 13 December in Madrid, Spain, hosted by the government of Chile with logistical support of the government of Spain under the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change).[29]
Licypriya met UN Secretary-General António Guterres during 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 Guterres. Greta Thunberg and several other global leaders participated during the event. [30]
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."[31][32]
Licypriya addressed global gatherings on Earth Day 2020 at Washington, D.C., United States. The event was virtual, due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. She was 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 (Prince 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.[33][34]
On 18 February 2020, she addressed the TEDxSBSC held in Delhi University, New Delhi, India. On 23 February 2020 she addressed the TEDxGateway held in Mumbai and received a standing ovation for her speech. She addressed TEDx talks six times by the time she was nine years old.[35][36][37]
Licypriya has been campaigning to make lessons in climate change mandatory in schools, and in response the government of the Indian state of Gujarat has included climate change in school education.[38]
On 11 December 2023, at 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28), Licypriya walked on to the main stage of the conference, holding up a sign, "End fossil fuels. Save our planet and our future.", and giving a brief speech. She was given a round of applause before being removed from the session by security personnel. According to Licypriya, she was banned from further participation in COP28.[39]
Licypriya was honored with the title "Rising Star" by the Earth Day Network headquarters based in Washington, D.C.[17][40][41]
On 19 November 2019, she received the "SDGs Ambassador Award 2019" at Chandigarh University, presented 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, presented by Lieutenant Governor of Pondicherry Kiran Bedi.[42]
In a report by The Times of India in June 2021, it was revealed that some of Licypriya's awards[which?] were given to her by her father's organisations.[43] Her father Kanarjit Kangujam Singh was arrested on 31 May 2021 for allegedly duping several self-help groups, hotels and individuals of money for a Global Youth Meet that he had organised in Imphal in 2014.[44] Nearly a hundred children from 12 countries claim Kanarjit Kangujam scammed them.[45]
