Given the ongoing pandemic and the growing impact of climate change, the UN Climate Change Conference COP26 was crucial as world leaders deliberated on climate action to forge consensus on mitigation strategies of climate change. At the conference, India pledged to achieve carbon neutrality by 2070. While the pledge is to work towards the long term goal, India faces the immediate air pollution crisis . The country’s major cities are struggling with poor air quality.
Children and youth climate champions joined the COP26 conversations by creating a video highlighting the land realities of air pollution across India. The video shows the impact of air pollution on health and well-being.
The young climate champions received the support of boxer and Olympic medalist Lovlina Borgohain. Lovlina Borgohain became the third Indian boxer, after Vijender Singh in Beijing 2008 and Mary Kom in London 2012, to win an Olympic medal, when she won a bronze medal in the women’s welterweight category at the earlier Tokyo Olympics. This year.
In the Let Me Breathe video, she is seen asking everyone to speak out against air pollution as Hawa ke Rakshaks and keep the commitment to the 1.5 ° C climate target. .
This #Children’s day👧🏼🧒🏼, Olympic bronze medalist @LovlinaBorgohai wants to know if you will be #HawaKeRakshak ??
POLLUTION CONTROL What is the #AQI in your city right now? Share a story and also join the virtual tour pic.twitter.com/skdwXnycOC
– #LetMeBreathe ™ 😷 (@LetMeBreathe_In) November 14, 2021
The video features children from various parts of the country explaining the impact of air pollution on health. The children say the problem has its roots in increased road traffic, the burning of garbage and the exploitation of quarries. Children advocate banning garbage burning, reducing the number of cars on the roads, planting trees, and empowering businesses to limit emissions.
As world leaders decide the future course of action in the # COP26, our #HawaKeRakshak make an important call for cleaner air #RaceToZero#LMBatCOP@ arifismail0@ guddig271 pic.twitter.com/2MKgDEZA0N
– #LetMeBreathe ™ 😷 (@LetMeBreathe_In) November 10, 2021