Indian PM to launch new global pro-environment initiative 'LiFE'
The Indian PM is set to launch the “Lifestyle for the Environment (LiFE) Movement” initiative on Sunday evening via video conferencing.
The initiative’s main purpose is to influence people across the world to adopt an eco-conscious lifestyle.
The idea of LiFE was introduced by PM Narendra Modi at the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow last year.
According to the PM’s office, the launch will initiate the “LiFE Global Call for Papers” inviting ideas and suggestions from academics, universities, research institutions, etc, to influence and persuade individuals, communities and organisations across the world to adopt an eco-friendly lifestyle.
Also present will be Bill Gates, co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation; climate economist Lord Nicholas Stern; author of “Nudge Theory” Prof Cass Sunstein; CEO and president of the World Resources Institute Aniruddha Dasgupta; UNEP global chief Inger Andersen; UNDP global head Achim Steiner; and World Bank president David Malpass, among others.
The idea promotes an environmentally conscious lifestyle that focuses on “mindful and deliberate utilisation” instead of “mindless and destructive consumption”.
Recently at the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Davos Agenda 2022, Modi introduced the “P3 (Pro-Planet People) movement” that underlines India’s climate-change commitments.
“[Today’s] ‘throw away’ culture and consumerism have deepened the climate challenge. It is imperative to rapidly move from today’s ‘take-make-use-dispose’ economy to a circular economy,” he said.
At COP26, Modi also announced that India has set a target of net-zero carbon emissions by 2070.
India also updated its Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) that have to be met by 2030.
Its new pledge includes increasing the country’s installed renewable capacity to 500GW, meeting 50 per cent of its energy requirements from non-fossil fuel sources.
At COP21 in Paris, India made similar ambitious announcements and aimed to reduce the economy-wide emissions intensity by 33-35 per cent by 2030.
In August, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy announced that the country has installed 100GW of renewable energy capacity.
While this is a milestone, India is on track to accomplishing only about two-thirds of its planned renewable target of 175GW installation by 2022.
The Statesman
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