The Indian actor Bhumi Pednekar has been a passionate advocate for the issue of climate change. The 33-year-old actor has also started a pan-India campaign called Climate Warrior, to raise awareness about conserving and protecting the environment. The online initiative aims to engage all citizens in becoming more aware of climate change and environmentally friendly lifestyle choices. Speaking to NDTV, Ms. Pednekar discussed the effects of climate change.
Here are the highlights of what Ms. Pednekar said:
- The irresponsibility of the people towards the climate crisis is risking future generations to come. The researchers and various data have reiterated how we’ve reached a tipping point and are close to going over the other side.
- Most of the financial and economic crises are a result of climate change, Ms. Pednekar said. She urged people to work in an individualistic capacity towards giving the present and future generations a fair chance of having a planet that’s abundant, healthy, and fair.
- The lack of empathy, care, etc., does not affect climate change, as much as the lack of ignorance does. Ms. Pednekar highlighted several movements led by young adults globally on the climate crisis.
- The mitigation efforts need to be examined at a more individualistic level. Ms. Pednkar said that countries need stronger policies on the environment and climate change, and world leaders need to recognise that the world is in a state of emergency and the adverse effects of climate change need to be addressed.
- The actor quoted cities like Mumbai and Delhi as examples of some of the biggest producers of waste every day that adversely affects the environment.
- Ms. Pednekar urged people to implement the concept of the 3 R’s—recycle,reduce, and reuse—to achieve a sustainable lifestyle, and become more sensitive towards our planet.
- Other steps that can be taken as individuals can include segregating the waste at source, planting trees, responsibly consuming natural resources, making conscious purchases, and much more.
Ms Pednekar said that one could not escape the wrath of nature. It was the need of the hour for people to become responsible for their actions and become a part of the solution for mitigating climate crisis.
We are a generation that has gone through a pandemic of the first-of-its kind that we have seen, and if science is to be believed, which we should, this is just the start of it. There are droughts, floods, and famines. You know, we are losing out on people because of a lack of food, water, and basic resources. There are mass refugee crises that are happening because of climate change, and we can’t ignore it, she added.
