Meet The 9-Year-Old Girl Suing The Indian Govt Over Climate Change
Uttarakhand was recently in the news for giving nearly all of nature’s creations legal rights, by making them living entities by law. This stands to mean that any harm done to these protected entities will be evaluated the same as harming a person, which is a remarkable initiative when it comes to saving the environment, especially in our country. However, it seems the Government may have been a tad bit too late, as a nine-year-old from Uttarakhand is out to sue them for failing to take ‘ambitious action’ to tackle climate change.
In an exclusive article by The Independent, Ridhima Pandey opened up as to how she wants the Government to save the planet for our future generations, and has been described by her lawyer as a ‘compassionate child.’ 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.” She isn’t far off from the truth though, as she rightfully argues that India has failed to keep to the promises made while signing the Paris agreement on climate change.
This climate change will not only affect India’s water resources, but will consequently cause major health crises. Due to her frustration at her inability to take part in decisions that will ultimately affect her, and her generation’s future, she decided to take a stand against the people in charge. She is being represented by environmental attorney Rahul Choudhary, who filed the petition on her behalf, along with Ritwick Dutta and Meera Gopal. Rahul told The Independent, “Children in India are now aware about the issues of climate change and its impact. The Indian constitution says that it is ‘the duty of every citizen of India ... to protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers and wildlife, and to have compassion for living creatures.’”
In the petition, she asks for a carbon budget and a national climate recovery plan, within which India will do its share to reduce atmospheric CO2, while moving away from fossil fuels. Massive reforestation and improved agricultural and forestry practices are also recommended. Inspired by her father, who works with an environmental NGO in Uttarakhand, the little lady is on a mission to save Planet Earth, one step at a time. It goes to show how a little awareness could, in fact, spark off a fire. Hopefully, the Government takes note, and perhaps a page or two out of Ridhima’s book.
Feature Image Credit — The Independent
