At a time when the Earth is about to reach its climate tipping point, our fight against climate change must intensify. Although the need to distinguish between “good fight” from “bad fight” might seem silly at this point, a comprehensive reading of the situation shows the logic behind such classification. It is now universally acknowledged that this change does not affect everyone equally and its impact varies from nation to nation depending on geographical location, economic conditions and other factors. Moreover, the Industrialized West has been historically responsible for contributing to the climate crisis, whereas the East has been on the receiving end.
Consequently, the concept of “Common but differentiated responsibilities” (CBDR) evolved in 1992 at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), keeping in mind this fundamental difference. Therefore, based on these differences, the priorities of the developed and developing nations on matters of this change are not aligned. While the approach of the Western Climate Activists has been traditionally to mitigate climate change by focusing on the reduction of coal usage and emission rate, the East has been banking on adaptation strategies as the developmental stage at which these countries currently stand makes it necessary for them to rely on coal.
The National Council on Climate Change, in conjunction with the European Union, organized a one-day workshop on reviewing the outcome of the Outcomes of the 28th Sessions of the Conference of Parties (COP28) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. pic.twitter.com/DzaslDTJpy
— National Council on Climate Change (@NCCCNigeria) April 17, 2024Despite their higher carbon footprint, they often pressurize the less industrialized nations to limit their emissions and act hindrance to developmental programmes. Creating mere obstacles in developmental programmes undertaken by less developed countries, instead of coming up with any innovative strategies, thus fails to establish itself as a “good fight” against climate change.
In the above light, the activism of climate change activists is considered who focus on sustainable and creative adaptation solutions. Let’s take a look at 12 such women leaders who are truly embracing the “good fight” against this change and inspiring us to take the cue from them.
1. Archana Soreng (India)
Climate activist Archana Soreng hails from the indigenous Kharia tribe of Odisha and is committed to creating awareness about the traditional knowledge and practice of indigenous people in preserving and conserving nature, besides ensuring that climate justice reaches every young person, Indigenous people and local communities. In 2020, Archana was selected by UN Secretary-General António Guterres as one of the seven young people with diverse backgrounds and expertise to join the Youth Advisory Group on Climate Change and served as a Youth advisor till 2023.
.@VOGUEIndia interviews RRI member @SorengArchana, a trailblazing Indigenous youth leader from Kharia tribe in Odisha, India! 💕
Kudos to @ha_anmol for highlighting the vital role of Indigenous knowledge in climate action!https://t.co/WW10PPrWtA
— RRI – Rights and Resources Initiative (@RightsResources) February 21, 20232. Vanessa Nakate (Uganda)
The 28-year-old Ugandan Climate activist Vanessa Nakate, is the founder of the Youth for Future Africa and has been the head of the Rise Up Movement’s African branch and actively campaigned for saving Congo’s rainforest from large-scale deforestation. Being inspired by Greta Thunberg, she started her lone fight against climate inaction by staging a strike before the Parliament of Uganda in 2019. She is presently working on a renewable energy project that aims at the installation of solar stoves in Ugandan schools.
3. Gladness Galiole (Tanzania)
Life took an unexpected turn for Gladness Galiole when her husband died after five years of their marriage. Being a member of the Maasai tribe, she was married as early as 15 after dropping out of school. After her husband’s death, she had to take care of her two children.
However, her participation in the UN’s Energize Project transformed her into an entrepreneur who is now mentoring young girls in the North Tanzanian village of Sale and teaching them the adaptation skills that she had learned. The Energize project aims at training women in rural Maasai villages on entrepreneurship and the installation of solar equipment, besides making environmentally friendly bricks, and building sustainable bio-gas systems to reduce dependence on firewood for daily chores.
4. Manal Bidar (Morocco)
Manal Bidar is a young activist based in Morocco who got involved in her first climate action when she was just 13. Forming a climate activism club with a few of her friends, she cleaned a beach. She is focused on youth mobilization for climate action and is an ambassador for the African Youth Climate Hub, a platform that aims at mobilizing young African climate.
5. Medha Patkar (India)
Medha Patkar is known for her organizational role in the Narmada Bachao Andolon (NBA), where she mobilized massive marches and peaceful protests against the construction of Sardar Sarovar Dam in Gujarat, India, as it was bound to displace thousands of tribal peoples and resulted in submerging of vast stretches of forests and farmland. She received the Goldman Environmental Prize in 1992 for her active role in shaping the movement and her commitment to the cause of the tribals.
Instead of the construction of large-scale dams, NBA calls for a sustainable energy and water strategy which will prioritize improving dry farming technology, watershed development, small dams, lift schemes for irrigation and drinking water, and improved efficiency and utilization of already existing dams.
6. Elizabeth Wanjiru Wathuti (Kenya)
Elizabeth Wanjiru Wathuti, a climate activist based in Kenya, is also the founder of the Green Generation Initiative, a youth-led organization aimed at creating a generation of environmentally conscious individuals by educating and empowering children and communities to love nature through experiential learning and on-ground nature-based solutions. The initiative counts planting 30,000 tree seedlings in Kenya as its key achievement. In 2019, she received the Africa Green Person of the Year Award, which was awarded by the Eleven Eleven Twelve Foundation.
7. Vandana Shiva (India)
Dr Vandana Shiva, known for her lifelong career as an environmentalist, has been instrumental in shaping the Chipko movement, which began in 1972 at the initiative of local women. It was a nonviolent response spearheaded by women who prevented large-scale deforestation in the Himalayan region. The women hugged the trees to protect them from being cut.
8. Hindou Oumarou Ibahim (Chad)
Hindou Oumarou Ibahim is a member of the Mbororo pastoralist people in Chad, who is leading a number of initiatives aimed at adaptation and mitigation of Indigenous peoples to climate change. A receiver of the Pritzker Emerging Environmental Genius Award in 2019, she was appointed as one of 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals advocates and serves as a member of forums focusing on the Indigenous people.
9. Adenike Oladosu (Nigeria)
She is a climate activist who initiated the school strike for climate causes in Nigeria. A leader of I Lead Climate Action, an organization which advocates for the restoration of Lake Chad and youth involvement in climate justice, she was nominated for the first UN Youth Climate Summit in New York.
10. Chami Murmu (India)
Chami Murmu, popularly known as the Lady Tarzan of Jharkhand, is an Indian environmentalist who is committed to protecting the forests and wildlife and enhancing the livelihood of locals. A recipient of Nari Shakti Purashkar in 2019, she received Padma Shri in 2024 which is the fourth-highest civilian award of the Republic of India. She mobilized women from more than 500 villages to plant Eucalyptus, Sal, and Acacia trees, among others, to replenish the forests in Jharkhand that had been destroyed by the timber mafia. She has initiated the building of watersheds, rainwater harvesting and other irrigation techniques for the betterment of the farmers in these regions, who now enjoy good harvests throughout the year.
President Droupadi Murmu presents Padma Shri in the field of Social Work to Ms. Chami Murmu. She is an environmentalist working to replenish the forests. She is popularly known as the ‘Lady Tarzan’ of Jharkhand. In the last decade, more than two million trees have been planted… pic.twitter.com/o0krzAhVVr
— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) May 9, 202411. Mina Susana Setra (Indonesia)
Mina Susana Setra, a member of the Dayak Pompakng people of West Kalimantan, Indonesia, has worked extensively in ensuring customary land rights of indigenous people by securing a ruling from the Constitutional Court in 2012. She is president of the board of If Not Us Then Who, an organization aimed at amplifying the voices of Indigenous communities, creatives, and leaders.
12. Nemonte Nenquimo (Ecuador)
Nemonte Nenquimo is an Indigenous Waorani climate activist who co-founded the Ceibo Alliance in 2015 to fight back against planned oil concessions on indigenous land in Ecuador. She helped her tribespeople by initiating a digital campaign with the aim of protecting their rainforests. Simultaneously, she launched sustainable initiatives like the installation of rainwater harvesting systems and solar panels besides supporting a woman-led organic cacao and chocolate production business to check their dependence on the oil company for their subsistence. In 2020, she received the Goldman Environmental Prize for South and Central America.
FAQ
Why is it necessary to distinguish between “good fight” and “bad fight” against climate change?
It is now universally acknowledged that climate change does not affect everyone equally and its impact varies from nation to nation depending on geographical location, economic conditions and other factors. Moreover, the Industrialized West has been historically responsible for contributing to the climate crisis, whereas the East has been on the receiving end. Creating mere obstacles in developmental programmes undertaken by less developed countries, instead of coming up with any innovative strategies, thus fails to establish itself as a “good fight” against the climate crisis.
How has the West differed in the climate change approach from the East?
While the approach of the Western Climate Activists has been traditionally to mitigate climate change by focusing on the reduction of coal usage and emission rate, the East has been banking on adaptation strategies as the developmental stage at which these countries currently stand makes it necessary for them to rely on coal.
Who are the twelve notable climate activists that are fighting the “good fight”?
Archana Soreng, Mina Susana Setra, Medha Patkar, Chami Murmu, Nemonte Nenquimo, Adenike Oladosu, Hindou Oumarou Ibahim, Vandana Shiva, Elizabeth Wanjiru Wathuti, Manal Bidar, Gladness Galiole, Vanessa Nakate are the notable climate activists who are fighting the “good fight” against climate injustice.
