Earlier this month, Indian activist Sonam Wangchuk went on a 21-day „climate fast“ in her Himalayan hometown of Ladakh. He had his two purposes. To draw the world's attention to the rapid meltdown of the Earth's „Third Pole“ and to pressure the Indian government to give the Ladakhi people legal protection over the region's resources.
For centuries, Ladakhi people have survived and thrived in the 'rain shadow' of the Himalayas. There, the only water available comes from melting snow and ice. But in recent decades, we have seen the rapid disappearance of glaciers, increasingly erratic snowfall, and disasters caused by unprecedented heavy rains and glacial lake flooding.
Wangchuk, an educator and engineer, has pioneered the construction of passive solar-powered buildings throughout the region.ice pagodaThis meltwater is refrozen for later irrigation use. But he is keenly aware that such efforts will not solve the larger problem. That is why he became one of the most prominent figures in India. voice To combat climate change.
For three weeks, Wangchuk Yale University Environment 360 Interviewed on the 19th day of his fast, he said he only ingested water and salt and slept outdoors at 11,500 feet below zero. Thousands of people took part in day-long fasts and mass protests in the Ladakh capital, demanding that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government declare Ladakh a „tribal region“ under the provisions of India's constitution. It guarantees local autonomy over land use. and resource management. Giving this authority to the Ladakhi people is the only way to protect this fragile cold desert ecosystem and the Ladakhi way of life, Wangchuk said.
“In Ladakh, we are in a very important position as messengers from the frontier,” he says. „We have a responsibility…to tell the world what's happening to us today and tomorrow it's going to happen to you too.“
Yale University Environment 360: I am currently on day 19 of a 21 day fast. How are you feeling?
Sonam Wangchuk: I have been feeling very weak for the past two days. I feel much better today.
e360: How would the legal safeguards you are seeking (such as having your own Legislative District Council) help protect Himalayan glaciers and the ecosystems and communities that depend on them?
Wangchuk: The Constitution of India has a special provision called the Sixth Schedule which gives protection to areas where tribal communities are in the majority, their people and their culture and how these places can be developed without interference from others. Let them decide.
What we are demanding, and what the government has promised, is to give autonomy to the indigenous Ladakhi people. The Sixth Schedule provides for the establishment of borough councils with legislative powers. They can make rules and regulations governing land, forests, water, agriculture, health, sanitation, mining, etc. However, after the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party won the election, it withdrew these promises.
„All my life I've seen glaciers disappear. Glaciers that used to be right next to the road have retreated hundreds of meters.“
e360: In the absence of these protections, what forms of future industrial development by outside interests are the people of Ladakh concerned about? Is there a particular proposed project that you are most concerned about?
Wangchuk: Without these protections, Ladakhis themselves could be completely excluded from land-use decision-making on their land. Outsiders will have access to huge mining, energy and industrial projects, but we will have no say in the matter. There is no local input or restriction on how these large projects are decided upon or built.
If Ladakh is left with this kind of freedom without any safeguards, mining companies will definitely come. We hear reports that they are already scouting in the mountains and valleys. Major hotel chains are also keen to enter this market. Our high deserts just don't have enough water to support these new demands. Every drop here counts. The tourism industry is already causing a lot of confusion regarding pollution and water use. People fear that without these protections, our culture and our way of life (which we have spent thousands of years fine-tuning to survive in these mountains while remaining in balance with resources and the environment) It means that it is not possible to maintain what has been done.
And to accommodate all of this new development, bigger and bigger roads will be built to accommodate more diesel trucks and vehicles. All of these activities are known to lead to increased local emissions of black carbon, or soot, which further accelerates glacier loss. That's because when soot falls on snow or ice, it absorbs solar energy, heating it up and melting it faster.
e360: Ladakh is located in the rain shadow of the Himalayas and virtually all of its water supply comes from snow and ice. If these trends of warming and glacier loss continue, how concerned are Ladakhis about being able to continue farming and living in the region in the future?
Wangchuk: I have seen glaciers disappear here in Ladakh. The glacier that was once right next to the road has now receded hundreds of meters. These changes have led to flash floods in some places and droughts in others. Some regions are already facing water shortages. If new industries come in, with their own water demands and pollution, not only the local population will suffer, but all of northern India will suffer. That's why we think it's so important to preserve these glaciers. When the glaciers disappear, the local people of Ladakh will become refugees, because glaciers are our lifeline.
But this does not only affect us in Ladakh. Ladakh and its glacier system are known as (part of) Earth's 'Third Pole'. It is the largest reservoir of fresh water outside the polar regions and directly or indirectly supplies a quarter of the Earth's population. It's not just a Ladakh problem. That's everyone's problem.
“I always appeal to people outside to live simply in the big cities, so we in the mountains can live simply too.”
e360: Were you encouraged by the response to your fast from other parts of India?
Wangchuk: yes. Throughout the fast, I have been providing morning and evening updates (on social media) to highlight these issues, educate the people of India, and at the same time remind the government of its commitments. Many people, especially from northern India, the foothills of the Himalayas and other parts of India, were moved and expressed their solidarity with us. There are definitely big changes. Some people have organized a day of fasting in their cities. Last Sunday it was in 25 cities across India. It shows how moved and supportive they are. People come from Darjeeling, Uttarakhand, all over the Himalayan foothills and many other places.
e360: Regardless of whether the government accedes to your demands or not, what do you think your fasting and related protests have already achieved?
Wangchuk: What I think we have accomplished is educating the public about the reasons for fasting. But instead of just keeping it as something we've gained for a good cause, I want to focus on how glaciers are melting and how corporations are exploiting mountains in unsustainable ways. We've tried to educate them about what's going on. It's about education. That definitely happened, even if the (political) demands were not met.
Many networks and connections have been created and the government is taking it seriously, but for now they are trying to avoid it. But I think sooner or later they need to pay attention. Because it affects their votes.
e360: The United States and other rich countries bear most of the historical responsibility for the fossil fuel emissions that caused the melting of the Himalayan glaciers. Given that fact, is your fast aimed at reaching people beyond India's borders?
Wangchuk: Yes, my climate change fast is as much about educating the world's big cities, where most of this problem started, and the countries that are historically responsible. But I must say that I am not one to blame the rich emitters of history and then make concessions for developing countries to increase their emissions. „It's our share now, so why shouldn't you drain it like you're already draining it?“ I don't believe that. The sooner we learn and act about things that are toxic and harmful to our planet, the better.
There is no need to repeat the mistakes of those in power in the past. We have to set things right in our own abilities. We can't do the same. Otherwise, there will be no difference between those of us who claim to understand environmental issues and those who didn't know at the time and did what they thought was right. However, it is true that large emitters also have a big responsibility, so I would like to connect with emitters in the United States, Europe, and other countries and appeal directly to the people.
e360: Do you have a message for people in the United States and other developed countries about their role in protecting the Himalayas?
Wangchuk: To make their lifestyle simpler. By switching from a carbon-intensive lifestyle to a greener one, you'll be harming the planet and yourself later on. But we Ladakhis will soon become victims of their actions through no fault of ours. So what I always appeal to people outside is to live simply in the big cities so that we in the mountains can just live. I want to influence people beyond the borders of India. Because emissions know no boundaries, and so does pollution. And because education is your best defense.