May 20, 2025 – In Delhi, India, where toxic air and seasonal pollution threaten children’s health, Bhavreen Kandhari has emerged as a powerful champion for environmental justice and early childhood development. A mother of twin daughters, Kandhari co-founded Warrior Moms, a nationwide movement of mothers demanding clean air, safe environments, and urgent climate action. What began as a WhatsApp message has grown into a grassroots force holding polluters and policymakers accountable. From courtrooms to UN climate summits, Kandhari continues to advocate for children’s right to a healthy start in life—mobilizing mothers across India to become advocates, watchdogs, and changemakers.
In this Q&A, Kandhari shares her journey, the challenges of environmental advocacy in India, and why centering children and caregivers in climate action is more urgent than ever.
Question: You’ve often said your activism began not as a choice, but as a necessity. Can you describe the moment in 2016 when Delhi’s toxic air became personal for you and your family?
Kandhari: On November 16, 2016, Delhi was engulfed in a dense, toxic smog. That morning, my twin daughters, then 13, woke up coughing, and the air was thick with the smell of burning fields. It was the first time in history that schools were closed due to air pollution. The fear I had about air pollution—something I’ve been working on since the late 1990s—was suddenly right in front of me. Watching my children struggle to breathe was the breaking point. I sent out a message on WhatsApp: We need to take action. Who is coming? That call mobilized 300 concerned parents and citizens to protest at Jantar Mantar. The movement was no longer just about activism; it was about mothers fighting for their children’s right to breathe.
Question: How does Warrior Moms approach climate action differently from traditional environmental campaigns—and why is a mother-led movement so powerful in this fight?
Kandhari: Warrior Moms is unique because it centers the voices of mothers—often the primary caregivers who witness firsthand the impact of environmental degradation on their children. Our approach is deeply personal and community driven. We don’t just protest; we educate, create awareness, and engage with policymakers. By forming teams across various states, we ensure that our advocacy is both localized and united. The maternal instinct to protect our children makes our movement powerful and relentless.
Question: Warrior Moms often speaks about how environmental crises like air pollution and extreme weather directly impact children’s health and well-being. What patterns or stories have emerged from your network that highlight how these challenges are affecting families on the ground?
Kandhari: Across our network, we’ve observed a disturbing pattern: children suffering from chronic respiratory issues, especially during the winter months when pollution peaks. Even our research on clean cooking has highlighted that children are among the most vulnerable to the toxic effects of air pollution. Many mothers report that their children’s coughs and colds return persistently each year. What’s alarming is that when these children travel to areas with cleaner air, their symptoms often vanish—only to return once they are back home. This underscores the direct link between environmental conditions and children’s health.
Question: Beyond air quality, Warrior Moms has been active in broader environmental issues like waste management, deforestation, and water pollution. Why is it important to take a systems approach to climate and child well-being?
Kandhari: Environmental issues are deeply interconnected. Poor waste management leads to open burning, contributing to air pollution. Deforestation reduces green cover, intensifying urban heat islands and further degrading air quality. Polluted water sources impact children’s health directly. Addressing these issues in silos is ineffective. A systems approach ensures that we tackle the root causes and understand the cascading effects on children’s well-being.
Question: You’ve engaged in both grassroots protests and legal advocacy. What lessons have you learned about what it takes to hold polluters and authorities accountable in India?
Kandhari: Accountability requires persistence and a multipronged approach. While campaigns and direct action raise awareness, legal advocacy ensures that violations are formally addressed. We’ve taken numerous cases to court—from illegal tree felling to challenging many sources of air pollution. However, enforcement remains a challenge. Without stringent penalties, prosecution, and consistent monitoring, violations continue. It’s crucial to have both public pressure and legal mechanisms working in tandem.
Question: How do you see the role of parents and caregivers in pushing for stronger climate policies at the national and global levels?
Kandhari: Parents and caregivers are powerful advocates because they represent the interests of the next generation. By voicing concerns, demanding policy changes, and educating communities, they can drive significant change. At the national level, they can influence electoral agendas by prioritizing environmental issues. Globally, they can collaborate with international movements to amplify their voices and push for comprehensive climate policies.
Question: What is the theme or focus of Warrior Moms’ participation in the upcoming 30th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP30), and how can others get involved or support your efforts?
Kandhari: Our focus for COP30 is to continue to highlight the disproportionate impact of environmental degradation on children and to advocate for policies that prioritize clean air and sustainable urban planning. We aim to bring grassroots stories to the global stage, emphasizing the urgency of action. A “Quilt of Hope”—created by mothers from six countries in the Clean Air Circle—symbolized our united call for cleaner air at the recent WHO conference in Cartagena. Many mothers across the globe now want to feature their kids battling air pollution. The quilt will grow and be installed at COP30, adding many more stories from mothers. Supporters can get involved by joining our campaigns, spreading awareness, and holding local authorities accountable for environmental policies.
Question: After years of advocacy, do you feel hopeful that change is coming? What keeps you going despite the challenges?
Kandhari: Change is slow, but every small victory fuels our hope. The growing awareness, increased media coverage, and the expanding network of concerned parents indicate a shift. What keeps me going is the resilience of our community, both locally and globally, and the unwavering commitment to ensuring that our children inherit a healthier planet.