Leh/Keylong/Shimla: Sonam Wangchuk, the renowned Ladakhi innovator, and his band of fellow marchers – including Ladakhi ex-army men – are five days into their grueling climate march from Leh to Delhi.
Their mission is simple yet urgent: wake up the world to the ticking climate clock and the fragile fate of the Himalayas.
As they crossed the towering Tanglang La pass at 17,450 feet and made their way to the Debring plains on the Tibetan Plateau, Wangchuk had a powerful message for the world – cut down on carbon emissions now or face irreversible consequences.
"We have less than five years to act before things spiral out of control," Wangchuk warned, standing in the biting cold at one of the highest motorable passes on the planet.
"While world leaders are setting carbon neutrality targets, India and China – two of the world's biggest polluters – are pushing timelines that simply won’t cut it. We need immediate action, like Finland, not promises for decades down the line."
Through steep climbs and treacherous paths, the marchers are determined to amplify their message as they push towards the icy heights of Lahaul-Spiti in Himachal Pradesh.
Battling snowstorms and constantly shifting weather, the group has already covered nearly 200 kilometers, and the journey is only getting tougher. Yet, their resolve remains iron-clad.
"Our glaciers are melting fast, causing flash floods and droughts".
These glaciers are our lifelines, and if they disappear, we, the indigenous people of Ladakh, will become climate refugees. The clock is ticking," Wangchuk said, urging the people and leaders of the world to act now before it’s too late.
In a heartfelt plea to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Wangchuk called for the protection of the fragile ecosystems of Ladakh under the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution, empowering local communities to steward their environment.
“This isn’t just our fight,” he added. “It’s a global one. We’re sending out an urgent SOS from the roof of the world. The Himalayas are dying, and if they go, we all go.”
The marchers are braving unpredictable weather, snowy peaks, and treacherous paths in their 30-day, 1000-kilometer trek.
And though their bodies may be weary, their spirits remain unshaken.
Their destination: Delhi’s Rajghat, where they hope to deliver their urgent message to the nation's leaders.
As they push on through Lahaul-Spiti, they call on every citizen, every voice to amplify this cry for help.
"Our time is running out," Wangchuk repeated, as the march continued, undeterred, towards its final destination.
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