India & Mission LiFE

IN NEWS:

• Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment), in the presence of the UN Secretary General António Guterres, at the Statue of Unity, Ekta Nagar, Gujarat.
• The Prime Minister and UNSG unveiled the LiFE logo and tagline, and released the Mission Document at the event.

WHAT IS MISSION LiFE?

• First proposed by the Prime Minister at the 2021 UN Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC COP26), Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) is envisioned as an India-led global mass movement that will nudge individual and collective action to protect and preserve the environment.
• On 5 June 2022, on World Environment Day, India furthered the vision of LiFE by launching the LiFE Global Movement, inviting academicians, researchers and start-ups across the world to think about specific and scientific ways in which the full potential of collective action can be harnessed to address the environment crisis. The movement received record support from global leaders.
• LiFE plans to leverage the strength of social networks to influence social norms surrounding climate.
• Mission LiFE aims at following a three-pronged strategy for changing our collective approach towards sustainability.
  • First is by nudging individuals to practise simple yet effective environment-friendly actions in their daily lives (demand).
  • Second is by enabling industries and markets to respond swiftly to the changing demand (supply).
  • Third is to influence government and industrial policy to support both sustainable consumption and production (policy).
• NITI Aayog will curate and incubate Mission LiFE in the first year, and it will subsequently be implemented by MoEFCC. The mission is a 5-year programme.
• Objectives of Mission LiFE:
  • Mission LiFE is designed with the objective to mobilise at least one billion Indians and other global citizens to take individual and collective action for protecting and preserving the environment in the period 2022 to 2027.
  • Within India, at least 80% of all villages and urban local bodies are aimed to become environment-friendly by 2028.

SIGNIFICANCE OF MISSION LiFE:

• Replace the prevalent 'use-and-dispose' economy with a circular economy:
  • Throwaway culture and consumerism are deepening the climate crisis. The transition to a circular economy from today’s ‘take-make-use-dispose’ economy is the need of the hour.
  • LiFE envisions replacing the prevalent 'use-and-dispose' economy, governed by mindless and destructive consumption, with a circular economy, which would be defined by mindful and deliberate utilization.
• Actions at the level of individuals and communities:
  • Several macro measures have been implemented globally to address environmental degradation and climate change, including policy reforms, economic incentives and regulations. Despite their enormous potential, actions required at the level of individuals, communities and institutions have received limited attention.
  • Changing individual and community behaviour as suggested by Mission LiFE alone can make a significant dent in the environmental and climate crises.
  • For example, according to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), if one billion people out of the global population of eight billion adopt environment-friendly behaviours in their daily lives, global carbon emissions could drop by approximately 20 per cent.

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• Makes the fight against climate change democratic:
  • Mission LiFE makes the fight against climate change democratic, in which everyone can contribute within their capacity.
  • It inspires people to do all that can be done in everyday life to protect the environment.
• LiFE and Sustainable Development Goals:
  • Given the global commitment to achieving the SDGs by 2030, it is important to note that Mission LiFE contributes directly or indirectly to almost all the SDGs.
  • For example, the SDGs focused on sustainable cities and communities (SDG 11), responsible production and consumption (SDG 12), climate change (SDG 13), or life on land (SDG 15), and life under water (SDG 14) require that all individuals temper their lifestyles in sync with the resources available on the planet.
  • Moreover, in view of India’s population, any large-scale behaviour change implemented in the country will also make a direct and immediate contribution to the SDGs at a global level.
  • For example, the Swachh Bharat Mission (SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation), by changing the behaviour of 550 million Indians from open defecation to use of toilets, reduced 60% of the one billion open defecators in the world.
• Based on environment-friendly traditional practices:
  • LiFE is conceived as a global movement that builds upon the environment-friendly culture and traditional practices in India.
  • The average carbon footprint per person in India is 1.8 tonnes per year, as compared to the global average of 4.5 tonnes, reflective of the sustainable social norms that govern the lifestyle of Indians.
  • Individual and household-level practices reflect the mindful relationship that Indians have with the environment. Clay utensils, for example, are commonly used for cooking and serving purposes. Across the country, street and public food establishments continue to serve food in plant- based biodegradable utensils (sal tree leaves) and tea in clay pots (kulhad).

INDIA’S INITIATIVES AND EFFORTS IN LINE WITH MISSION LiFE:

• Mission Amrit Sarovar:
  • With a view to conserve water for the future, the Prime Minister has launched a new initiative named Mission Amrit Sarovar on 24th April 2022.
  • The Mission is aimed at developing and rejuvenating 75 water bodies in each district of the country as a part of celebration of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav.
• National Hydrogen Mission:
  • Through the National Hydrogen Mission, India has moved towards an environment-friendly energy source.
  • This will help India and many countries of the world to achieve their goal of net zero.
• Increasing renewable energy capacity:
  • India has the fourth largest renewable energy capacity in the world (India is ranked number four in wind energy and number five in solar energy).
  • India's renewable energy capacity has increased by about 290 percent in the last 7-8 years.
  • India met its target of generating 40% of its electricity from non-fossil fuel sources by 2021, 9 years ahead of schedule. 
• Other initiatives:
  • National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC)
  • National Mission for a Green India (GIM)
  • National Afforestation Programme (NAP)
  • National Biodiversity Action Plan
• Initiatives at international level:
  • One Sun, One World, One Grid:
    • The Honourable Prime Minister of India conceptualised “One Sun, One World, One Grid” for interconnected solar energy infrastructure at a global scale.
    • Taking this vision forward, the United Kingdom and the Government of India, International Solar Aliance with the support of The World Bank, jointly launched the global “Green Grids Initiative – One Sun One World One Grid”, at COP26 (Glasgow, 2021).
  • Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI):
    • The Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) is an international partnership of governments and other agencies working to promote resilience to disasters.
    • CDRI was launched at the UN Climate Action Summit in 2019 at the initiative of India, and facilitates the sharing of knowledge and resources among its members.
    • It also helps countries meet the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and expand access to basic services.

CONCLUSION:

• As UN Secretary-General Mr. Antonio Guterres said, over-consumption is at the root of the triple planet emergency of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution. We are using the equivalent of 1.6 planet earth to support our lifestyle.
• In this context, the Lifestyle for Environment-LIFE initiative, which is designed in such a way that all of us can be part of the solution to protect our planet and our collective futures, is a welcome move.
• Mission LiFE can be successful only when it reaches every corner of the world. We have to remember the mantra—Prakriti Rakshati Rakshita—that is, those who protect nature, nature protects them.

PRACTICE QUESTION:

Q. "We can safeguard the environment by altering our way of life." Discuss the statement with reference to the recently launched "Mission LiFE".