Here are 5 contemporary environmental movements that are fighting for climate justice in India.
- Save Dehing-Patkai
This movement began as a protest against the April 2020 decision by the National Board of Wildlife (NBWL) to allow North-Eastern Coal Fields (NEC) to do opencast mining in 98.59 hectares of Dehing-Patkai Wildlife Sanctuary.
It is well known as the ‘Amazon of the East,’ the 111.19-hectare sanctuary is home to over 40 species of fauna, over 300 species of birds, 40 species of reptiles, and 100 varieties of orchids. It has the highest diversity of wildcats anywhere in the world.
The Elephant Reserve already suffers from logging, hunting, and illegal mining—giving legitimacy to these will only compound existing problems. As the habitat shrinks, human-animal conflicts will also rise.
The members of the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) and All Assam Matak Youth Students’ Union had staged protests in the Tinsukia district by forming a human chain earlier this May. The hashtag #SaveDehingPatkai led to online protests by people across the country including prominent personalities like Adil Hussain, Randeep Hooda, and Joi Barua.
- Save Aarey
The ‘Save Aarey’ protest rallies had been going on since the proposal of the car shed and gained momentum after the approval in August. Aarey is the only national park located within the city limits of a metropolis in Mumbai; it is home not only to flora and fauna but also to many tribal communities who have been displaced because of various government projects.
Protesters started pouring into Aarey to save the ‘green lungs of Mumbai.’ Also, they were lathi-charged by the police and many were detained for several hours in various police stations across Mumbai over the weekend. Section 144 was imposed till October 6. When the newly elected CM Uddhav Thackeray ordered to stop the construction work of the shed, things looked promising. However, the issue is still ongoing with little hope of the forest being restored to its former glory.
- Save the Sundarbans
The Sundarbans are the largest mangrove forest in the world and are located in the delta of the Ganga and the Brahmaputra. However, the largest intact tract of mangrove forest in the world is shrinking fast because of increased sea levels and beatings from cyclones, which are more frequent due to climate change.
The mangrove forests are at a high risk because of a more pronounced rise in sea level than anywhere else which could eventually lead to a severe migration crisis of the local communities. A campaign emerged online to #SavetheSundarbans. In the middle of a global pandemic, concerned citizens resorted to donating to organizations working on the ground, initiating dialogue about this treasure like the Amazon or Australian Bush, and making art to spread awareness under the #SundarbansChallenge.
- Climate Action Strike
The third week of September 2019 saw students across big cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, and Chennai stage peaceful protests at prominent city centers, heeding Greta Thunberg’s call for mass protests to urge governments to take definitive action on the issue of Climate Change. This was largely youth-led who made it a point to stress the urgency of global warming through creative slogans. The point was to spread awareness about the impact a mere 2-degree shift could have on the planet.
Environmentalists like Bittu KR also participated and he emphasized how the government has to heed concrete policy demands and go beyond token afforestation in an attempt to portray its commitment to the environment. It was part of a global expression of solidarity to fight for climate justice and emphasize on its importance.
- Right to Breathe Protest
The nation’s capital throttled into an environmental crisis as the Air Quality Index (AQI) plummeted to 494. The city with mere breathing in Delhi is considered a hazard to one’s health. The protest organized as a result of various movements on social media, saw over 1,500 people gather at Amar Jawan Jyoti, India Gate on November 5. Leonardo Dicaprio highlighted the success of these demonstrations in triggering climate action by the government. A special panel was set up to address the issue, Supreme Court ordered the state governments to address the crop and waste burning issue, Centre agreed to use the Green fund to combat toxic air pollution but the air quality was still abysmal.
Delhi experienced ‘clean’ air following the lockdown but the air quality started dipping slowly.
It just goes to show how large the threat of global warming is looming. The government needs to be making stronger policy changes to combat air pollution and ensure the safety of its citizens.
Climate Action has always occupied a backseat when it came to choosing between development and environmental protection but the events of the world are forcing us to rethink the time we have left. If the Climate Crisis is not acted upon, the planet will hurtle toward an apocalypse. The political and social events that are transpiring certainly make one feel that way. But the rising awareness through protests, especially among the youth, provides us with a sliver of hope.
World Environment Day 2023 marks the completion of 50 years of its establishment. So, “Let’s Nurture Nature So That We Can Have A Better Future”.
Source: Feminism In India
