Sonam Wangchuk, a Ladakh activist, will begin a five-day climate fast on January 26 to demonstrate the ‘power of the sun
Sonam Wangchuk, a Ladakh activist who inspired the film’s protagonist, will begin a five-day climate fast on January 26 to highlight the “strength of the sun” and “sustainable carbon-neutral technologies.”
Wangchuk revealed that during his fast he will camp atop the Khardungla at a height of 5,500 metres, where the temperature will be -40 degrees Celsius. The carbon-neutral fast will require him to employ solar panels to generate hot water and power, and possibly a solar bed. In a video, Wangchuk said, “Solar is the way forward for the globe, and that is what I will attempt to convey during what may be the world’s first climate-neutral fast.”
THIS IS THE POWER OF SUN
And I’ll be demonstrating it during my… (possibly world’s 1st carbon neutral) #ClimateFast at #Khardungla top 18,000 ft minus 40 °C starting 26th January…
Stay tuned…#SaveLadakh@350@UNFCCC @UNEP #ilivesimply @narendramodi @LeoDiCaprio pic.twitter.com/wKCKC878D1— Sonam Wangchuk (@Wangchuk66) January 24, 2023
Wangchuk released a video from inside a wonderfully constructed mud house in Ladakh, where the temperature was 20 degrees Celsius even when the weather outside was negative 20 degrees Celsius.
In preparation for the fast, the activist stayed overnight on his rooftop at HIAL Phyang at an altitude of 3,500 metres and a temperature of minus 20 degrees Celsius, earning accolades from business magnate Anand Mahindra.
A TEST RUN SUCCESSFUL !
All’s well at minus 20°C.
Inching closer to my #ClimateFast at #Khardungla 18,000 ft minus 40 °C starting 26th January…
This test was on my rooftop at #HIAL Phyang at 11,500 ft#SaveLadakh@ClimateReality@UNFCCC @UNDP_India #ilivesimply @narendramodi pic.twitter.com/apv0NDrZAg— Sonam Wangchuk (@Wangchuk66) January 23, 2023
Wangchuk has been pressing Prime Minister Narendra Modi to pay attention to the environmentally fragile region of Ladakh, where studies indicate that two-thirds of the glaciers have vanished. Wangchuk had requested Modi in a video to intervene and protect the endangered ecosystem under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution because “nothing is well in Ladakh.”
Wangchuk emphasised that if the irresponsibility persists and Ladakh is not afforded protection from the industries, the glaciers in this region would vanish, resulting in major water shortage issues in India and the surrounding area.
“If no action is taken, Ladakh’s industry, tourism, and trade will continue to thrive and will finally destroy the region. Recent studies from Kashmir University and other research organisations have concluded that Leh-glaciers Ladakh’s will recede to nearly two-thirds their current size if they are not adequately maintained. “According to a study conducted by Kashmir University, glaciers surrounded by roads and human activity are melting at an accelerated rate,” Wangchuk stated.
With inputs from agencies
