Licypriya Kangujam, the 12-year-old climate activist from Manipur, stormed the stage during an event at the United Nations Climate Conference (COP28) in Dubai on Monday. She was protesting against fossil fuels.
A new draft climate agreement proposed on Monday by the Emirati presidency of UN COP28 talks called for reducing the production and consumption of fossil fuels but it no longer mentioned a "phase-out".
In a video she shared on X (formerly Twitter), Kangujam can be seen running up to the stage holding a sign that read: "End fossil fuels. Save our planet and our future."
“Governments must work together to phase out coal, oil and gas – the top cause of the climate crisis today. Your action today will decide our future tomorrow,” she said, before sitting in protest on the floor of the stage. The speakers watched on as she spoke before an official and security guards took her away.
There was a loud applause and cheers from the audience Kangujam was taken away from the stage.
"They detained me for over 30 minutes after this protest. My only crime- Asking to Phase Out Fossil Fuels, the top cause of climate crisis today. Now they kicked me out of COP28," she wrote on X.
Licypriya Kangujam is a globally recognised climate activist. One of the world’s youngest environment activists, she has been calling for laws to tackle high pollution levels in India.
In July last year, she posted a photo of her standing amidst plastic waste from the banks of the Yamuna river behind the Taj Mahal. After her photo was viral, the authorities in Agra cleared the waste.
In September 2019, she protested for a week outside the parliament to press for a climate change law.
Often compared to Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, Kangujam has participated in many international events. In December 2019, she addressed global leaders leaders at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Madrid.
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