Spotlight back on climate crisis in Visakhapatnam

Visakhapatnam: Representatives of Extinction Rebellion (XR) Vizag, students, corporate bodies and various NGOs rallied around the City Central Park raising slogans "We want climate justice" on Friday morning.

As part of the last day of Global Climate Change Awareness Week, Extinction Rebellion XR Vizag formed a Human Chain around the Central Park. The representatives displayed 'Declare Climate Emergency,' 'Planet Before Profit,' and 'If Not Now then When,' banners related to climate change and appealed to the government to declare Climate Emergency in Visakhapatnam and Andhra Pradesh.

"When the government could ban Rs 2,000 overnight they can also take measures of climate change overnight," says Tanvi Somani, a member of Extinction Rebellion.

"We are not paying attention to Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). We will be reaching 1.5 degree C by 2030. Instead of waiting for years to take actions to combat climate change, we should start right now," she said.

The team has also urged the local authorities to make Visakhapatnam a climate-friendly city. "If we don't act now there is no point as the animals are getting extinct and there is no biodiversity.

The entire eco-system is damaged and there is no balance and that's why we have started extinction rebellion movement, which has already spread out in 152 countries including India. And more over as a human being we need to stop this right now," says Ratnalata from Green Face Environment Society.

The whole movement is aimed at transforming Visakhapatnam into a sustainable city, thus making Vizag a climate-friendly and resilient city.