Srinagar, In the stark, mountainous terrain of Ladakh, part of the Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, thousands have been braving the severe cold for over two weeks in protest. Their demands are clear: the assertion of rights over their land and the safeguarding of the region’s delicate ecological balance, currently under threat from both climate change and increased militarization.

According to Kashmir Media Service, Ladakh’s unique geographical position, nestled between India, Pakistan, and China, has made it a focal point of territorial disputes. Moreover, its fragile environment is bearing the brunt of climate change, with altered weather patterns causing floods, landslides, and droughts in its thinly populated villages.

Joining the protesters is renowned climate activist and engineer Sonam Wangchuk, who has been on a hunger strike in Leh town since the demonstrations began on March 6. Despite the freezing conditions, Wangchuk, known for his commitment to sustainable living through his Himalayan Institute of Alternative Ladakh, has limited his intake to salt and water in a “climate fast” to draw attention to the urgency of the environmental crisis facing the region.

Wangchuk’s protest underscores the severe consequences of unchecked industrial development and military activities, including those stemming from the ongoing military standoff with China, on the local environment. The dispute has intensified since 2020, further exacerbating the region’s pollution levels and contributing to the rapid melting of glaciers.

Highlighting the broader implications of the crisis, Wangchuk warned of a looming “international disaster,” as the Greater Himalayas, to which Ladakh belongs, are crucial to the water supply of over 2 billion people across multiple countries. He also pointed out the encroachment on vital pasturelands used by Ladakh’s nomads due to large-scale Indian industrial endeavors.

The protest movement gained momentum following the controversial decision by New Delhi in August 2019 to revoke the special status of Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir, subsequently separating Ladakh as a union territory without its consent.