Our Very Own Bhavreen Reena Kandhari (C-15) Stands Out as A True Climate Champion
Heartiest Congratulations to the very intrepid Champion of the causes of Clean Air and Climate Change, an experienced knowledgeable and vociferous representa-tive of our country at various conferences since Glasgow 21 our very own Bhavreen Reena Kandhari C-15.’ For those of us who may not know her she stands out as a true Climate Champion, she has brought the world’s focus to the calamity we experience in Delhi.” says Rajeev Suri paying a tribute.
And this was her aim and focus representing India as a delegate and a mom at Cop28 UN Climate Summit at Dubai sharing her concerns for clean air health and wellbeing of the future of their and world’s children, by joining hands and forces with all other Moms from different continents at the summit at Dubai, ‘to make their voices heard by heads of policy makers making key decisions at the conference’. A truly inspiring and an impassioned activist expressing and fighting for the cause of ‘clean air’ despite the Supreme Court Orders without any relief.
She along with some other delegate Moms were interviewed recently by BBC at Dubai. Kudos to the lady and more empowerment and success to her.
Following is her interview with BBC:
Bhavreen Kandhari, 51, is a mother of twins passionate about a future with cleaner air
Bhavreen Kandhari, a mother of twins from India, shares that motivation but she is kept awake at night by a very specific issue – clean air.
She lives in Delhi, one of the world’s most polluted cities, and joined the Indian clean air movement two decades ago, motivated by growing concerns over her then-baby girls’ health outcomes.
“What are we doing to our children? They are breathing toxicity every second of their lives, and we are not even reacting,” she says. “My daughters are turning 20 … I still didn’t manage to bring them clean air.”
In polluted Delhi, one in three children has damaged lungs she says. “Unfortunately, air is not visible. It’s invisible. We don’t see it, so we don’t believe it.”
Indian Court’s 40-Year Quest to Clean Delhi’s Foul Air
In early November, the Supreme Court in India called for “immediate action” after air quality in the capital deteriorated to alarming levels. Similar orders in the past, targeting construction and crop burning, have had little impact.
Weeks later, Mrs Kandhari left the smog for the halls of climate power in Dubai.
Along with Mrs Akao and Ms Wanjiku, she’s been able to attend COP28 with the support of Our Kids’ Climate, an organisation that empowers parent leaders and activist groups around the world. Mrs Kandhari has been to many COP summits since her activism began but since Glasgow in 2021, she says parents – and mothers specifically – have increasingly found themselves coalescing around the same message.
“I think we’ve all been joining hands and I think that is what makes it so powerful.”
