Calling out world leaders for climate action to save the valley of darkness
An eight-year-old girl, Chhimi Yangzom, studying in grade II at Mendrelthang Extended Classroom in Lunana wrote a letter to the world leaders calling out for climate action.
Chhimi requested the foreign minister, Lyonpo Dr Tandi Dorji to carry her thoughtfully written message to the 77th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) where great leaders across the world gather and discuss world changing matters.
The eight-year-old highlighted the risk and fear of unpredictable GLOF (Glacial Lake Outburst Flood) as a result of global warming and climate change posing immediate risk on the Lunaps and their little village.
GLOF on October 7, 1994 flushed settlements in Lunana instilling fear among the highlanders. Ever since, the community has been praying to the local deity for protection from nature’s fury. The melting of glacial lakes, speeded up by human activities leading to global warming.
Lunana also known as the valley of darkness, nestled among the glacial mountains with four major glacial lakes namely Luggye tsho, raphstreng tsho, Baytsho and Thorthomi, is one of the most vulnerable communities and the first to be it of GLOF occurs again.
With the support from UNDP, National Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPA-I) started a water level lowering project at the Thorthomi lake in 2008 and completed in 2012.Similarly, Raphstreng lake water level lowering project is also carried out.
It’s easy to forget the threat one is living during the broad day light with breathtaking views of pristine, untouched natural formations. But as darkness of the night creeps in, people are reminded of the 1994 GLOF incident that damaged and destroyed lives, farmlands, and settlements.
The fear of displacement, the anxiety of not being able to evacuate loved ones to safer ground, the history repeating, the nightmares, the tales of the elderlies and youth are somehow summed up in that powerful letter, a class II student penned.
Lyonpo Dr Tandi Dorji at the 77th UNGA said that the rapid climate change imposes threat to the future generations, but one must act when there’s still time. He said, “We must see greater solidarity and cooperation from all states to support efforts of the most vulnerable to adapt to the changing climate, and deal with its consequences.”
Lyonpo also requested world leaders to invest in sustainable mountain development and help the mountain communities as he delivered a notable speech, reading the letter from Lunana.
An eight-year-old girl, Chhimi Yangzom, studying in grade II at Mendrelthang Extended Classroom in Lunana wrote a letter to the world leaders calling out for climate action.
Chhimi requested the foreign minister, Lyonpo Dr Tandi Dorji to carry her thoughtfully written message to the 77th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) where great leaders across the world gather and discuss world changing matters.
The eight-year-old highlighted the risk and fear of unpredictable GLOF (Glacial Lake Outburst Flood) as a result of global warming and climate change posing immediate risk on the Lunaps and their little village.
GLOF on October 7, 1994 flushed settlements in Lunana instilling fear among the highlanders. Ever since, the community has been praying to the local deity for protection from nature’s fury. The melting of glacial lakes, speeded up by human activities leading to global warming.
Lunana also known as the valley of darkness, nestled among the glacial mountains with four major glacial lakes namely Luggye tsho, raphstreng tsho, Baytsho and Thorthomi, is one of the most vulnerable communities and the first to be it of GLOF occurs again.
With the support from UNDP, National Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPA-I) started a water level lowering project at the Thorthomi lake in 2008 and completed in 2012.Similarly, Raphstreng lake water level lowering project is also carried out.
It’s easy to forget the threat one is living during the broad day light with breathtaking views of pristine, untouched natural formations. But as darkness of the night creeps in, people are reminded of the 1994 GLOF incident that damaged and destroyed lives, farmlands, and settlements.
The fear of displacement, the anxiety of not being able to evacuate loved ones to safer ground, the history repeating, the nightmares, the tales of the elderlies and youth are somehow summed up in that powerful letter, a class II student penned.
Lyonpo Dr Tandi Dorji at the 77th UNGA said that the rapid climate change imposes threat to the future generations, but one must act when there’s still time. He said, “We must see greater solidarity and cooperation from all states to support efforts of the most vulnerable to adapt to the changing climate, and deal with its consequences.”
Lyonpo also requested world leaders to invest in sustainable mountain development and help the mountain communities as he delivered a notable speech, reading the letter from Lunana.
