We are facing a climate catastrophe. Leading scientists have warned that we have 12 years to take emergency action on climate change, or we face the gravest threats to our local and global environment. This includes worsening risks of drought, floods, extreme heat and poverty for hundreds of millions of people. We must act urgently, starting by immediately declaring a national climate emergency.

It is time for the Indian government to tell the truth about climate change and it's gruesome effects! It is time for the Government of India to start considering Climate Change as an issue of the highest priority! The world faces a climate emergency and most people are not even aware of it. By declaring a national climate emergency, we can take the a step in the right direction and make people aware of how grave a situation we face! 

United Kingdom declared a National Climate Emergency on the 1st of May 2019 and it is the first country in the world to do so. The Republic of Ireland did the same on the 9th of May and became the second country in the world to do so. 

This movement gained friction with massive protests and also the efforts of people like Greta Thurnberg (a 15-year old student activist) who spoke at the United Nations conclave and the world economic form. Taking inspiration from the recent happenings in the United Kingdom, I was compelled to start this petition. I personally witnessed the mass protests that brought London to a standstill. 

Whether or not India acknowledges it, global warming is real and it's happening. I speak out of personal experience when I say that every kid in India is exposed to a severe risk of lung diseases. According to a research conducted by the World Health Organisation, of the 12 most populated cities in the world, there are 11 cities from India. Nine out of ten people now breathe polluted air, which kills 7 million people every year.

A recent report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change shows that India could face the harshest effects of global warming and more sooner than most countries. India stands to be one of the nations most significantly affected, given its huge population and levels of inequality and poverty.

• For one, sea level rise will have a disastrous impact on the country and cities like Mumbai, given its large coastline, and the number of people who live close to and depend on the sea for their livelihoods.
• On the other hand, deadly heatwaves - similar to one in 2015 that killed thousands of people in India - could soon become the norm, with the eastern Indian city of Kolkata likely to be the worst affected.
• The report also says that it will not be easy to do for countries in South Asia, which are largely developing economies with limited resources.

Humankind is at a crossroads. Now it is time for our elected representatives in the Parliament to act by declaring a Nationwide Climate Emergency.  

Humans have already caused irreversible climate change, the impacts of which are being felt around the world. But it’s not too late. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report says that limiting Global Warming to 1.5°C may still be possible - but it requires ambitious action from national and sub-national authorities, civil society, the private sector and local communities. It's not too late. 

In order to avert climate disaster, we are calling on the government to:

1. Declare a ‘Climate Emergency’ now.

2. Halt fossil fuel expansion and fossil fuel subsidies by 2020 and begin to support the roll-out of clean renewable energy technologies immediately.

3. Ensure current and future policies are consistent with averting climate change and preventing ecological collapse.

4. Support the rapidly emerging climate action plans and resilience initiatives throughout the country.

5. Reduce carbon emissions to net zero no later than 2030.

Please sign my petition inspired by Ariana Jordao's, calling on the Indian Government to declare a climate emergency and take urgent action to avoid a climate disaster for all of us, and for the generations to come. There is only one Earth. Let's take care of it. Let's save our kids. And, save our future. Come, let's build a New India. A new world.