COP28 Climate Summit: Licypriya Kangujam, a 12-year-old climate justice activist from India, took the stage at the COP28 climate summit in Dubai, holding a sign that read: “End fossil fuels. Save our planet and our future.” After her brief protest, she was escorted away as the audience clapped, according to Reuters.
Sharing a video clip of her protest on social media, Kangujam stated, “They detained me for over 30 minutes after this protest. My only crime – Asking to Phase Out Fossil Fuels, the top cause of the climate crisis today. Now they kicked me out of COP28.”
In another post, Kangujam emphasized the urgency for governments to collaborate in phasing out coal, oil, and gas—the primary contributors to the climate crisis. She highlighted the impact of climate change on children and called for prioritizing funds on ending hunger, providing education, and combating climate change.
COP28 director-general ambassador Majid Al Suwaidi commended the enthusiasm of young people at the summit and encouraged the audience to applaud Kangujam again, as reported by Reuters.
Public protests have been limited at the United Nations talks in the United Arab Emirates, and negotiators worked late into the night to address concerns and reach an agreement on climate goals.
Born in 2011, Licypriya Kangujam is the founder of The Child Movement and has been advocating for climate action since the age of six. She is recognized as one of the youngest global climate activists, addressing world leaders at the UN Climate Conference 2019 (COP25) in Madrid. Kangujam has received numerous awards, including the World Children Peace Prize Laureate 2019 and Rising Star of Earth Day Network 2019. She began her climate advocacy in July 2018 and has continued to raise awareness and demand action on climate change.
