Hailing from Uttarakhand, Riddhima Pandey was spurred into action after witnessing the Kedarnath floods of 2013. Riddhima studying in class 8, became a prominent name in 2017 when she filed a petition in the National Green Tribunal against the government for failing to take action on climate change. “I love nature and wildlife and they perished in the floods. All our government promises are on paper but lack action and that’s why I sued my government in 2017,” Riddhima said.
Unfortunately, the NGT said that climate change was already covered under the environment impact assessment and disposed of her plea. Recently, she was among 16 children, including Greta Thurnberg, who filed a complaint to protest the lack of government action on the climate crisis at the United Nations Climate Action Summit.
In an interview with The Independent in 2017, she said, “My government has failed to take steps to regulate and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, which are causing extreme climate conditions. This will impact both me and future generations. My country has huge potential to reduce the use of fossil fuels, and because of the Government’s inaction, I approached the National Green Tribunal.”
In New York, she campaigned against climate change along with Thunberg, Alexandria Villasenor, Chiara Sacchi, Catarina Lorenzo, Iris Duquesne, Raina Ivanova, David Ackley III, Ranton Anjain, Litokne Kabua, Deborah Adegbile, Carlos Manuel, Ayakha Melithafa, Ellen-Anne, Raslen Jbeili and Carl Smith.
At the beginning of October, 2019, Riddhima spoke at the Xynteo Exchange in Norway alongside Norwegian Sami artist and climate change activist, Ella Marie Haetta Isaksen. She even appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to prevent the Aarey forest in Mumbai to be chopped down for a controversial metro car shed project. In September, 2019, she also led a climate strike in Dehradun under the FridaysForFuture Movement, and has expresses concern over the pollution and cleaning of the Ganga.
In addition to her demands for strong action, she also wants the government to move away from fossil fuels, protect forests, grasslands, soil, mangroves, engage in massive reforestation and improve agricultural and forestry practices.
Her interest in nature and climate activism was inculcated in her through her parents who are both involved with environmental conservation in different capacities.
Ridhima’s mother Vinita who is a beat officer with the Uttarakhand forest department said, “As parents, we are trying to be as supportive of her as possible but like other parents, we have ensured she remains grounded.” Her father, Dinesh Pandey, who works for an NGO in Uttarakhand, was also able to instil a love for the environment within her. Through her activism, she has led the way to an environmental movement powered by the youth in India.
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