Coastal communities in Odisha’s Ganjam district are uniting with Greenpeace to demand accountability from major oil and gas companies for climate damages.
Podampeta, Odisha, 2 November 2025 — In a bold push for climate justice ahead of COP30, local families, especially women, teamed up with Greenpeace activists in Podampeta village to present a massive climate bill. This call aims to hold the world’s leading fossil fuel companies responsible for the rising costs of climate change.
The event featured a huge installation displaying the message: “Make Climate Polluters Pay.” This bill highlighted extreme weather events experienced by South Asian communities since the Paris Agreement was adopted in 2015. It serves as a symbol of the increasing challenges these communities face due to climate change.
Leading experts estimate the economic damages from the carbon emissions of five major oil and gas players could reach over $5.36 trillion from 2016 to 2025. To put that in perspective, this amount is nearly 7,000 times larger than what countries have promised to the UN’s fund for loss and damage, which is designed to help vulnerable communities in the Global South.
Ganjam, one of India’s most climate-affected areas, was the perfect backdrop for this significant statement to world leaders at COP30. Community members emphasized that climate justice involves accountability, not charity. Their participation highlighted the dire consequences of fossil fuel-driven climate changes and the urgent need for fair financial support and reparations.
“We have lost our homes and livelihoods to stronger cyclones and rising sea levels. We are paying for a crisis we didn’t create. It’s time for big polluters to face the consequences,” said Chandragiri Tiki, a resident of Podampeta.
Selomi Garnaik, Climate and Energy Campaigner at Greenpeace India, added, “In the last decade, India has faced repeated extreme weather events. Experts have linked these conditions directly to fossil fuel use. Communities like ours are suffering due to a crisis not of our making. This giant bill represents an unpaid debt to those who have lost so much.”
Statistics show that emissions from a few major oil companies are fueling the climate crisis, leading to more frequent wildfires, floods, and heatwaves. As the world looks to COP30 for change, the voices from Podampeta call for a unified demand: make climate polluters pay.
This message is gaining traction on social media. Hashtags like #MakePollutersPay have surged in popularity, drawing attention to the plight of affected communities and the need for urgent action. Online discussions reflect a growing public demand for accountability from fossil fuel companies and support for climate justice initiatives.
Check out the official climate bill here.
Through such initiatives, communities are amplifying their demands for change, hoping for a future where climate justice becomes a reality.
