WATCH: Climate Change Short Films from the Indian Himalaya, screened at COP27

Three stories from Uttarakhand highlighting the will highlight the impacts of climate change in the mountains

A lot has been happening on climate change this year and you probably are wondering where did I disappear during this time of flux. In what is a significant departure from my usual routine, this year has been the year of long term projects. I have been incredibly occupied wrapping up and setting up several long term projects on climate change, which has been both very exciting and exhausting because I’m used to instant gratification. But I had realised a while ago that if I focus my energies in a single direction, I can have a lot more impact. And finally I have developed a strong body of work, after three years of singular focus on climate change communication through various media. With this portfolio and experience, I’m very excited to begin the next chapter of my career in climate change.

One of the projects that I was very excited to work on this year was a short film commission from International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), a unique intergovernmental body working exclusively on the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH). ICIMOD wanted me to make some short films highlighting the impacts of climate change in the Indian Himalaya, to be featured at COP27. Many of you know I had previously co-directed/produced The Weight of Water, a feature length documentary on the impacts of climate change on the water cycle and local communities in Nepal. That was my directorial debut feature and I have had many documentary ideas spinning in my mind since then. So when ICIMOD approached me to make these short films, I thought it would be a great opportunity to see if I can repeat the magic. I’m thrilled to report that I am very satisfied with the outcome and I think I will gather a lot more director credits. :)

I had a very tight budget and timeline but I’m pleased that I was able to develop, direct and produce three short films, all in a month. I spent only a week on field in Uttarakhand, developing the story and script from scratch and then filming each of the stories on ground during that one week alone, roughly two days for each film.

1. The Exodus : Uttarakhand's burgeoning Ghost Villages

Over 40% of the population in India's hill state, Uttarakhand is migrant and there are at least 1700 ghost villages. Most of the mountain communities here depend on springs for domestic water use, especially in the mid hills that are away from direct glacial sources. Climate change and unsustainable water management have been wreaking havoc on these traditional water sources, leading to water scarcity in the already harsh mountain region. On top of that, agrarian crisis, extreme weather events and lack of decent livelihood is driving an unprecedented exodus from the mountains, leaving once-thriving villages as shadows of the past. 

In this film, we visit two villages, one with spring water and another without, to see a stark difference in how they function. Mohan Singh from Kabdoli narrates the tragic story of his village that is being abandoned due to lack of employment, agriculture and water. While Bhopal Singh from Malsakhet narrates the story of how his village is holding on despite migration, because they still have water and are managing their community forest well. Mayank Shah, a social researcher and Ph.D from Nainital, Uttarakhand who works on climate change, livelihood and migration issues ties the two stories together to explain how the failing rural mountain economy must be revived to stop migration and withstand growing climate impacts in future. 

2. Moving Mountains : Persisting against Plastic

Did you know plastic comes from fossil fuels? And did you know COP27 was funded by Coca-Cola, one of the world’s largest plastic polluters? Not too long ago, I thought plastic is a massive environmental problem but not a climate problem. But now I know better. The fossil fuel industry, especially the oil and gas sector, is doubling down on plastic production and counting on plastics to be the next major growth market by 2050 as the world moves away from fossil fuels for energy production. Right now, plastic production contributes about 3.4% to global greenhouse gas emissions, but as plastic production/consumption increases, we expect this sector to become a major contributor soon. According to the International Energy Agency, about 50% of the world’s crude oil demand will come from petrochemicals by 2050. So not only does plastic irreparably ruin our environment, but it will also cause climate change!

Earlier this October, I had the pleasure of meeting Jitender Yadav from Almora, who was fed up with plastic pollution in the hills of Uttarakhand and took the matter to the court after decades of doing whatever he could in a personal capacity. Since he filed a public interest litigation in July 2022, a lot has been happening, and things seem to be moving in the right direction. Garbage anywhere is difficult to clean up, but it is particularly problematic on the mountain slopes. And even more so when the hill districts do not have any kind of waste collection & disposal mechanism, like in Uttarakhand. Yadav wants a proper waste management process in Uttarakhand, but he’s clear-eyed that the problem must be nipped at the source, i.e., plastic production & consumption must be drastically reduced.

And after working on this story, I, too, am clear-eyed that plastic is going to be a big climate problem in near future. The global energy debate will be incomplete without considering the rising demand from petrochemicals. Plastic must go away!

3. Counting on Resilience: Life in Unprecedented Times

Leela Bisht is a mother of two and lives in a small village near Ramgarh with her husband. She has led a difficult life due to limited economic means and is determined to highly educate her children so that they can escape a life of poverty. Working at Kilmora, a 27-year old social enterprise based in Uttarakhand who work on livelihood support and income generation for small and marginal farmers, has helped her gain a modicum of financial security and stability over the recent years. After days of extreme rainfall, on the night of October 18th, 2021, Ramgarh was hit by a sudden flood that swept away one of Kilmora’s units where the products were made. Together, Leela and Anamika Das, who heads Kilmora’s agriculture vertical, tell us about their experience of what happened during the disaster and living in uncertain times.

As climate change intensifies, incidences of flash flooding due to extreme rainfall and melting glaciers is also greatly increasing in the mountains. India has seen several instances of flash flooding from Ladakh to Uttarakhand already, many of them quite catastrophic, claiming several lives and causing much infrastructure damage. Uttarakhand is extremely vulnerable to climate change impacts and prone to extreme weather events. The state experienced 7,750 extreme rainfall events and cloud bursts since the Paris Agreement was signed, killing 230 people, according to Government data.

The stream that flooded and caused massive destruction last October was once again swollen this October. Ramgarh never experienced extreme rainfall like this until now. Building climate resilience in the mountains through sustainable development, better EIAs considering changing climate, early warning systems etc., will be key to protecting millions in the Hindu Kush Himalayas.

Another exciting announcement: I’m writing a climate change book!!