Licypriya raises 'End fossil fuels' slogan at COP28
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, December 11 2023: 12-year-old climate activist Lic-ipriya Kangujam burst on to the stage at the COP28 climate summit in Dubai on Monday, holding a sign above her head that read; "End fossil fuels.

Save our planet and our future".

Licypriya, a child climate justice activist from Manipur, raised slogans to end fossil fuel to save the planet for around 1 minute before she was escorted away by security personnel.

Her daring act received accolades from those attending the summit as the audience could be seen clapping encouraging her act.

While on stage, the climate activist said, "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.

We are already the victim of climate change.

I don't want my future generations to face the same consequences again.

Sacrificing the lives of the millions of innocent children for the failures of our leaders is unacceptable at any cost".

"Millions of children like me are losing their lives, losing their parents and losing their homes due to climate disasters.

This is real climate emergency.

Instead Of spending billions of dollars in wars, spend it on ending hunger, giving education and fighting climate change.

We want clean air to breathe, clean water to drink and clean planet to live.

Asking clean air to breathe, clean water to drink and clean planet to live is our basic rights," she said.

"I'm am child who is completely frustrated by today s climate crisis.

We are the first line of victims, I feel the core issues of phasing out fossil fuels are keeping in side in the negotiations process going on in the CQP28 with over 2500 fossil fuel lobbyists.

After thinking many times, I decided to do this protest.

Even my mom tried to stop me but I convinced her that "Everything will be alright".

I am taking the risks of my life because I want to save our Planet and our Future.

My voice deserve to be heard by the world.

Let s stand together by uniting, instead of dividing," she added.

Soon after she was escorted, COP28 Director-General Ambassador Majid Al Suwaidi said he admired the enthusiasm of young people at COP28 and encouraged the audience to give Licypriya another round of applause.

Several X (formerly Twitter) users praised her action while criticising the officials for escorting her out.

Shortly after she was escorted out of the conference hall, her mother posted on her X account saying that she could not find her daughter, who was taken away by Dubai police.

Later, she shared another post saying, "Licypriya reunited with me and they kick her out of *COP28UAE for just asking to phase out fossil fuels.

I can't control her tears.

They have taken her badge and threatened with many strong words to the 12 years old kid.

This is unacceptable".

Licypriya then shared another post, "Dear Mr @ antonioguterres Sir, @simonstiell Sir, What is the reason to cease my @UNF-CCC #COP28UAE badge for protesting against the fossil fuels? If you're really standing against the fossil fuels, then you must support me and you must immediately release my badges.

This is gross violation and abuse of Child Rights in the UN premises which is against the UN principle.

I have the rights to raise my voice at UN.

This is an attempt to silence my voice.

You can stop me from entering #COP28UAE but you can't stop my spirit.

Trust me, I will come back stronger than before".

"Children & young people are most affected by the #climatecrisis, and yet their perspectives are not heard, they are not included in decision-making structures.

But the fossil fuel industry is.

No wonder activists like @LicypriyaK protest.

Give her the badge back & #End-FossilFuels," an X user said while sharing the video of the young climate activist staging protest at the UN Summit.

Public protests have been limited at the United Nations talks that are being held in the United Arab Emirates, which bans many organised groups, including political parties and labour unions.

Meanwhile, The COP28 climate summit was thrown into uproar on Monday as a first draft of a climate pact suggested countries "reduce" fossil fuels - a watering down of a previous, stronger proposal to "phase out".

The draft agreement, also known as the "Global Stocktake", suggests a list of actions countries "could" take.

Countries on Monday received a new draft text of a final deal.

The text did not refer directly to a phase out of fossil fuels, which is a key demand of the European Union and many developing countries that are especially vulnerable to climate change.

The contentious clause in question suggests countries: "Reduce both consumption and production of fossil fuels, in a just, orderly and equitable manner so as to achieve net zero by, before, or around 2050 in keeping with the science" .

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