UN Resident Coordinator In India Talks About Odisha Climate Warriors Being On Frontline Of The Climate Battle

Bhubaneswar: India could be one of those countries where heat and humidity would pass limits of human survivability and it is also among those most vulnerable to sea-level rise.

These are the findings of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Working Group II report — ‘Climate Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability’.

The UN Secretary-General António Guterres said the report was nothing less than “a code red for humanity. The alarm bells are deafening, and the evidence is irrefutable”.

In his keynote address at the recent Jaipur Literature Festival, UN Resident Coordinator in India Shombi Sharp, however, said that there is still scope for measured optimism with real stories of young Indians on the frontlines of a ‘triple planetary crisis’, offering us solutions and adaptations are inspiring.

“In Odisha, a tribal girl mourns the loss of her ancestral forests — and her people’s livelihood. Once lush forests have now been reduced to barren scrubland. A few hours away, on the coast, a young man surveys the destruction left by a cyclone, the waves coming closer, threatening to swallow his village. In rural Uttar Pradesh, a teenage girl despairs that her community doesn’t know the very air they breathe — polluted by industry and dirty cooking fuels — is shortening their lives,” he said.

Sharp was referring to Archana Soreng, who in his words, “is now tirelessly advocating to bring indigenous perspectives and forest protection practices into the climate discourse.”

She has been documenting indigenous practices, including healthcare, environment preservation, forest protection, agriculture and lifestyle while working with tribal communities and forest dwellers. She is also a part of an initiative called Adivasi Drishyam that creates videos on indigenous wisdom, the NDTV reported.

In 2020, the climate activist was named by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to his new advisory group comprising young leaders who will provide perspectives and solutions to tackle the worsening climate crisis.

The other inspiring story from Odisha is that of Soumya Biswal,  a 24-year-old environmentalist from Astarangpur in Puri district, who has been spearheading a campaign for the protection of Olive Ridleys and replanting mangrove forests to protect his community and marine life.

He and his friends patrol the beach every night during the nesting season to protect eggs of Olive Ridleys that turn up in millions along Odisha coast for mass nesting every year.

Sharp also spoke about a few more warriors from Uttar Pradesh and Rajashthan.

“These are just a few examples of inspiring young people and communities offering innovative, sustainable, and equitable climate solutions that the UN in India is proud to partner with,” he added.