Licy’s Fight for the Climate
April 22 is Earth Day! Here’s the story of a kid who is a serious friend to planet Earth.
Courtesy of Licypriya Kangujam
The photo on the left shows Licypriya Kangujam protesting in front of the White House, where the U.S. president lives. The photo on the right shows Licy with famous activist Malala Yousafzai at a meeting of world leaders.
When Licypriya Kangujam was 6 years old, a strong storm called a cyclone hit her town in India. Soon after, her family moved to a city called Delhi, where the air was very polluted. Licy realized that there were serious problems with the environment all over the planet. She decided she had to do something about it. Now 11 years old, Licy is a climate activist. That means she is working to slow climate change.
Licy’s own experience taught her that climate change is leading to warming temperatures, stronger storms, flooding, and more. Licy says people have the right to live on a healthy planet. She wants leaders to pass laws to stop pollution such as greenhouse gases, which are causing climate change.
Licy’s work started close to home. At age 6, she went to India’s Parliament House, where the nation’s laws are made. There, she held a protest to get the attention of India’s leader, the prime minister.
Satyabrata Tripathy—Hindustan Times/Getty Images
On March 6, 2020, Licy Kangujam took part in a climate march with students in India. Licy is in the center of the photo.
Since then, Licy has traveled around the world, trying to get world leaders to act. She has given speeches and led protests. And every year, Licy goes to COP, a meeting where leaders from many countries discuss what to do about climate change. But Licy says these meetings don’t always lead to solutions. She believes that leaders aren’t acting fast enough.
Licy herself is doing all she can to save the planet. She spreads her message on TikTok and Instagram. In 2018, she started Child Movement, a group that works to make people aware of how climate change affects the planet, wildlife, and people. She also encourages kids and adults to plant trees every Monday.
Licy says kids can do a lot to help the planet. She’s proof of that!
“Many people told me that I’m too young to get involved in such activism,” she told the Washington Post. “But I strongly believe that children can lead the change.”
