Rituraj Phukan
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Rituraj Phukan | |
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| Citizenship | Indian |
| Occupation |
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| Organization | Indigenous People's Climate Justice Forum |
| Known for | Climate justice and Indigenous peoples' rights |
| Title | Convenor of Mahabahu Climate Forum |
Rituraj Phukan is an Indian environmentalist and writer based in Assam. Phukan, a member of the Tai Ahom, is the founder of the Indigenous People's Climate Justice Forum and the Convenor of the Mahabahu Climate Forum.[1] Phukan writes and speaks about climate policy and its effects on indigenous communities in the Eastern Himalayas.
He has traveled multiple times to the Arctic and Antarctica [2] [3] to observe regional climate conditions and amplified indigenous and climate justice perspectives as an invited speaker at UN Climate Conferences COP26–COP29, and the Women’s 7 Summit under the G7 Italian Presidency. He is a member of the Indigenous Peoples Caucus for both the UNFCCC and UN CBD negotiations.
He was a delegate to the first UN CBD Subsidiary Body consultation with indigenous stakeholders in Panama City in October 2025 and the UNCCD COP15 in Riyadh in 2024. Following the event, he stated to The Guardian and BBC Scotland that the conference logistics excluded attendees from the Global South.[4][5]
Career and organizations
Phukan established the Indigenous People's Climate Justice Forum, an organization operating in Assam.[1] He is also the Convenor of the Mahabahu Climate Forum.[6]
Phookan often speaks about how indigenous people are affected by climate change and how their cultures and management practices can help to restore and preserve degraded natural lands. In his interview with denkhausbremen and the sentinel, he emphisized that indigenous communities are not just victims of climate change but also key custodians of solutions. Their knowledge, traditions, and sustainable practices should be prioritized in global climate strategies.[7].[8]
In his published articles, Phukan has written about climate impacts in Northeast India and the Eastern Himalayas. In a 2025 paper for the Observer Research Foundation, he stated that the region experiences disproportionate climate risks.[9]
He has authored opinion pieces on this subject for The Financial Express.[10]
Phukan has also presented research on human-elephant conflict in the Karbi Foothills at the 16th International Elephant Conservation and Research Symposium.[11][12]
Expeditions and international representation
Phukan completed an expedition to the Arctic to observe regional climate changes.[2] He has also traveled to Antarctica and discussed these polar expeditions at TEDx events, posts and interviews. [13]
He is listed as a Climate Reality Leader with Climate Reality Project India.[14]
In 2018, he was a keynote speaker at the "We Don't Have Time" Climate Conference.[15]
At the COP26 summit in 2021, he criticized the event's organization, stating that logistical barriers prevented activists from the Global South from attending. [4][5] He was a panelist at the Y20 (Youth 20) Inception Meeting, an engagement group of the G20.[16]
Rituraj was featured in Nobel Laureate Al Gore’s “An Inconvenient Sequel,” interviewed by BBC Scotland and The Guardian, while his efforts have been featured in documentaries by Doordarshan [17], DY365, and a British Farsi film.
Selected works
Books
- Phukan, Rituraj. Climate Justice 101: Empowering Community Leadership.
- Phukan, Rituraj. Everyday Climate Action: A Handbook for Gen Z.
Academic papers and articles
- Phukan, Rituraj (2022). "People's Response to the Climate Emergency in India". The American Journal of Economics and Sociology. Wiley.
- "Northeast India’s Unequivocal Right to Climate Justice" – Observer Research Foundation (ORF).[9]
- "Indigenous People and Climate Justice: The Eastern Himalayan Perspective" – The Financial Express.[10]
- Phukan, Rituraj (2022). "Changed Destinies in the Eastern Himalayan Region". The Meriwala Health Initiative Journal. Reframe.
Recognition
- 2022 Sanctuary Wildlife Service Award from the Sanctuary Nature Foundation.[18][19]
- 2023 Bhavartha Swarup Memorial Mahabahu Award from the Multicultural Educational Development Trust.[20]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Rituraj Phukan, Founder at Indigenous People's Climate Justice Forum". WorkMob. Retrieved 2026-03-04.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Assam environmentalist Rituraj Phukan completes Arctic expedition". NE News. Retrieved 2026-03-04.
- ↑ "Experiencing Climate Change at the Global Frontiers, Rituraj Phukan shares his life as an activist". Socio Story. 2022-05-19. Retrieved 2026-03-11.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Brooks, Libby (2021-09-09). "Scottish campaigners condemn Cop26 as the most exclusionary ever". The Guardian.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Climate Change: 'I'm scared for my country'". BBC News. 2021-08-20.
- ↑ "Rituraj about his life journey as a climate activist". Mahabahu. Retrieved 2026-03-04.
- ↑ "Rituraj Phukan: Indigenous communities are at the front line of climate change". denkhausbremen. 2023-11-03. Retrieved 2026-03-11.
- ↑ "Northeast India's Unequivocal Right to Climate Justice". The Sentinel. 2022-11-03. Retrieved 2026-03-11.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Phukan, Rituraj (2025-07-11). "Northeast India's Unequivocal Right to Climate Justice". Observer Research Foundation. Retrieved 2026-03-04.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Indigenous People and Climate Justice: The Eastern Himalayan Perspective". The Financial Express. 2023-12-12. Retrieved 2026-03-04.
- ↑ "Symposium Proceedings: 16th International Elephant Conservation and Research Symposium". International Elephant Foundation. Retrieved 2026-03-04.
- ↑ Living with elephants: Herds of the Karbi Foothills, Rituraj Phukan (Video). International Elephant Foundation. 2024-09-03.
- ↑ Arctic and Antarctica - The Polar Experience (Video). TEDxRoyalGlobalUniversity. 2021-03-21.
- ↑ Rituraj Phukan, Climate Reality Leader from Assam, India (Video). Climate Reality Project India. 2020-07-28.
- ↑ Rituraj Phukan keynote at We Don't Have Time Climate Conference 2018 (Video). WeDontHaveTime. 2018-06-14.
- ↑ Panelist of Y20 Inception Meet (Video). Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports. 2018-06-14.
- ↑ Assam's Rituraj Phukan sends Save Rhino message from Antarctica (Video). Doordarshan News. 2013-04-03.
- ↑ Sanctuary Wildlife Award 2022 : Service Award : Rituraj Phukan (Video). Sanctuary Nature Foundation / DSP Mutual Fund. 2023-03-28.
- ↑ "Wildlife Service Award 2022". Sanctuary. 2022. Retrieved 2026-03-11.
- ↑ "Bhavartha Swarup Memorial Mahabahu Award". Mahabahu. 2023-09-23. Retrieved 2026-03-04.
External links
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