What a ride 2022 has been! Together we demanded better air quality guidelines, public transport infrastructure, city spaces for cyclists, consumer-supported food systems and inclusion of millets and pulses in the Public Distribution System! Also with multiple climate extreme events in the form of heatwaves, cyclones and floods, we focussed on climate adaptive and community supported systems as the true solution to the crisis at hand. Looking back at an important year, here are some of our highlights of 2022. We could not have done it without YOU!

Clean Air For All!

10000+ Indians came together to demand their right to clean air! It can happen and it did, with our petition to the Central Pollution Control Board. Volunteers, women labourers and activists came together to install a ‘Tree of Life’ made from postcards signed by citizens of the country. Not only was the petition accepted by CPCB officials, but as of recent news updates, revised air quality standards are in the works!

Pedalling Towards Change

Power The Pedal, a movement by a community of women cyclists across the country gained momentum this year. With established women cyclist communities in Delhi and Bengaluru, we began preparing the next set of customised cycles to be acquired by more women labourers. The women have been fighting for their right to space, holding rallies and putting forth cyclist demands to policymakers. In true community form, the National Day of Action saw a coming together of hundreds of cyclists across 70+ Indian cities with one call: CITIES FOR CYCLISTS!

Revolutionising The Food We Eat!

Everyone should have agency over their own food, especially women and children, who are more vulnerable to malnutrition. In Jamui, we launched Organic Kitchen Gardens across three schools, building capacity for students to plant, grow and cook healthy, organic, delicious food of their choice. Across other villages in the district, organic kitchen gardens are empowering women to harvest nutritious food from their gardens. This is said to have reduced illnesses in their families, reduced costs, built resilience during extreme weather disasters and allowed them to experiment with new produce such as broccoli!

The Greenpeace Changemakers!

Be it prepping for events, speaking to people about the importance of climate justice or bringing creative ideas to the table, our volunteers are at the heart of our work. If you’ve had the chance to meet them on a day out, you would remember them for their dedication and enthusiasm for the cause of climate change. Here’s to our changemakers!

Cooking up Change!

Eating right for the climate fight – a movement to encourage local, climate resilient food consumption. Our chef’s tables in Bengaluru and Ranchi showed the power your choice of food holds! While one celebrated varieties of indigenous rice, the other celebrated traditional adivasi food of tribes in Jharkhand. Both presented climate resilient food – better for the planet and better for our health.

Public Transport for the People!

A majority of commuters in key industrial cities like Bengaluru are bus commuters. So why is the preference of road space given to cars? Our studies in Delhi and Bangalore show maximum bus commuters prefer to continue using public transport. In our demand to protect the bus lane, we demanded a city built for people, not vehicles. This includes a public transport system that is efficient, safe and appealing. 

Resilience in the Times of Crisis

The floods in Bengaluru this year brought the city to a standstill. As it goes with such extreme events, the vulnerable communities were disproportionately affected, lacking access to healthcare, essential services and amenities to rebuild from the damage. In a letter to the Chief Minister of Karnataka, we put forth key demands to make Bengaluru a climate-resilient city that is sensitive to its natural ecosystems and rooted in inclusion and sustainability.

Reporting Climate Change

This year, public transport, remote work, climate resilient agriculture, cycling communities and extreme weather events were extensively covered in our reports. The information in our reports not only enhances the work we do on ground but more importantly: provides solutions. How many have you come across?

Climate Justice for Vulnerable Communities

Ending the year with a message of community solidarity, climate justice and urgency for action, we unfurled a banner off the coast of Chellanam, Kerala. The action happened as world leaders were discussing climate change at COP27 in Egypt, bringing attention to the impacts frontline communities in the global south are already facing and the actions they take to mitigate them. Climate adaptation measures need to have local communities at its core. With the action, we look forward to a year that holds true to the fight for climate justice.