The fight against the climate crisis is undoubtedly one of environmental justice, questioning entrenched systems of power that create social, political and economic inequities across the world. While this challenge is well known, rarely do we see these power systems questioned and successfully overcome through non-violent and legal activism.
In this special climate and development seminar, Mr Alok Shukla, winner of the prestigious Goldman Prize for Environment 2024 (‘Green Nobel’) and the convenor of the Chhattisgarh Bachao Andolan (Save Chattisgarh Movement), India, will take us through the journey of the Save Hasdeo Aranya campaign – a campaign that mobilised Adivasi (tribal) communities, challenged corporate and state power, and secured landmark policy victories to protect one of India’s last unfragmented forest landscapes. He will trace the campaign’s origins, strategies, and pivotal moments—from mass protests and sit-ins to legal battles and legislative victories—while also reflecting on the broader lessons for environmental justice movements.
We look forward to seeing all of you there for a talk that aims to give us a glimmer of hope in a rather tumultuous world dealing with a polycrisis.
Speaker
Alok Shukla is a convenor with Chhattisgarh Bachao Andolan (Save Chattisgarh Movement), an informal alliance of grassroots movements across Chhattisgarh. The alliance is member-driven, without any paid employees. Alok is also a founding member of the Hasdeo Aranya Bachao Sangharsh Samiti (Save Hasdeo Aranya Resistance Committee), a grassroots movement uniting forest-dwelling villagers across the region. Growing up in the mineral-rich state of Chhattisgarh, Alok witnessed the profound environmental and social devastation wrought by extractive industries.
Acutely aware of unsustainable resource extraction, he decided to dedicate his life to protecting the water, forests, and land of central India, as well as supporting Adivasi tribes, which are the traditional stewards of the land. He led a successful community campaign that saved 445,000 acres of biodiversity-rich forests from 21 planned coal mines in the central Indian state of Chhattisgarh. In July 2022, the government cancelled the 21 proposed coal mines in Hasdeo Aranya, whose pristine forests—popularly known as the lungs of Chhattisgarh—are one of the largest intact forest areas in India.
This work won him the prestigious 2024 Goldman Environmental Prize (arguably considered the Nobel Prize for Environment).
To know more about Alok Shukla and the campaign watch this video.
Chair
- Lars Otto Naess, IDS Research Fellow.
- Karan Shingal, IDS MSc Climate Change, Development and Policy Student.
How to watch
You can attend this event in person.
Accessibility
This event will take place in the IDS Room 221 which is on the 2nd floor of the IDS Building. If you need to use a lift then press floor 2.
If you have any accessibility issues then contact [email protected]
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