Seventeen-year-old Rishika, a student of Modern High School, was selected after she participated in the International Climate Champions contest, an initiative by the British Council, which provides an international platform for young people to build consensus for action on climate change. Being a member of the eco-club in her school made a big difference in her life.

At the opening session of the forum, Rishika will speak on the ‘humanitarian impact of climate change on the Sunderbans’ highlighting the problems, solutions, positive stories and the challenges that the people of that region face. At the plenary session she will speak on the ‘health impact of climate change in India’.

“During my visit to the different islands in the Sunderbans, I found out that global warming had led to a rise in the water level. Currently, during high tide, the water damages the rudimentary embankment that has been created by the villagers. Once saline water seeps into cultivable land it becomes useless for three years,” said Rishika.

Rishika has visited Gosaba, Lothian, Jambudeep, Sagar and several other islands. She further explains that the rise in salinity levels has hit prawn cultivation in the area, thus leaving the people virtually unemployed.

She will present her 2,200 word essay in Geneva along with other participants from across the world in the presence of Kofi Annan. Apart from students, directors of multilateral organisations, humanitarian organisations, international corporations and community leaders will also participate in the forum.

Rishika tries to contribute to the pollution free environment in her own little way. She uses car pool service, does not use air-conditioning at home and strictly uses CFL bulbs in her house.