The stage is set for a grand push to Mission LiFE. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was accompanied by UN Secretary-General António Guterres. at Kebadiah, Gujarat for the mega event on Thursday. Given that this was his first visit to India during his second UNSG term, it is a testament to the mission’s global appeal.
Going forward, Mission LiFE will be India’s leading initiative at the United Nations and other international platforms to showcase climate action and early achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.
What is Mission Life? It all started when the Prime Minister brought up a concept called his LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) at his COP26 in Glasgow last year. In doing so, he represented a reality that the world has overlooked at great risk. I can’t continue living the way I used to. The “use and throw away” lifestyle must be replaced by habits that reflect a mindful orientation to the planet.
In August, the Union Cabinet approved India’s latest Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), which was passed on to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The first of the eight points listed in the updated NDC is: “Advance healthy and sustainable lifestyles based on tradition, the values of conservation and moderation, including through mass movements around the ‘LiFE’ key”. advocating and emphasizing the need for further promotion. to fight climate change.” During India’s G20 presidency, maintaining and promoting the LiFE will be one of the key areas of focus for deliberations.
How sustainable is Mission LiFE? It envisions a circular economy with people participating. We also plan to foster a global network of individuals, known as People Keeping the Planet, or P3, who share a common commitment to adopting and promoting a green lifestyle.
Niti Aayog and the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, in collaboration with other agencies, launched a global call for ideas. Innovative solutions to promote wider adoption of traditional and climate-friendly practices, or to create livelihood options for communities that may lose their jobs due to the transition to climate-friendly production. solution. and scalable best practices to bring about climate-friendly behavior change.
Public, academic and private institutions are asked to submit idea papers by the end of 2022. The 100 best ideas will be part of the compendium presented at the 2023 Global LiFE Conference. Also, the best ideas will be awarded at his COP28.
Ideas can change the world. However, implementations always have challenges to deal with. But in this case, there is no room for failure and the luxury of procrastination is unavailable. Adapting to the new LiFE will involve massive disruptions that will require breaking old habits and adopting new ones. It will require a radical change in the way we live every second. Behavior change is hard and maintaining change is even harder.
A successful transition to LiFE should focus on three elements: a stakeholder-based approach, adopting “planet orientation” as a talisman, and sustained public support. Adopting a sustainable lifestyle is no longer the responsibility of ‘others’. The cost falls on each of us, whether institutional, national, social or individual. Or whether it’s governments, businesses, entrepreneurs, universities, schools, or NGOs.
Persistence has been a critical factor in the success of the International Solar Alliance, which India champions. Similarly, consider India’s recent ban on single-use plastics. A stakeholder approach, including collaboration between industry associations, manufacturers, scientists, schools, educational institutions, civil society groups such as RWA, the media and local bodies, will help find sustainable alternatives to such plastics. It has a better chance to evolve and spread.
For each stakeholder, “planetary orientation” must become a talisman for judging their thoughts, ideas and actions. The DNA of all policies and programs, decisions, practices, functions, organizational and individual actions must be instilled with a ‘planet first’ approach. Environmental sustainability and conservation is no longer the sole responsibility of his one ministry of government or corporate sustainability departments. Governments and multilateral institutions must ensure that regulations, laws and public infrastructure encourage and mandate business practices and civic actions that protect the planet.
The world of business also needs an eco-friendly reform. Business performance, accounting and auditing practices, personnel standards and employee evaluations, production and R&D, packaging, marketing and distribution, and all other functions should be evaluated on a planet-oriented touchstone.
Ultimately, LiFE’s success lies in people’s general adoption of eco-friendly behavior, resulting in the yang-and-run of the earth-friendly lifestyle. This is easier said than done as it takes a lot of self-discipline, effort, willpower and attention to change established habits. Moreover, there should always be a reason to continue as usual. Human buy-in is essential to the success of Mission LiFE.
By making the orientation of the planets a top priority in your personal values, you can drive immediate, seemingly small, but highly impactful behavioral changes. Turn off appliances when you don’t need them, use less water when brushing your teeth, watch your plastic consumption, dispose of your e-waste responsibly, and walk or bike to your local market. and began to carry his own jute bags for shopping. .
As always, LiFE is at its best when the action starts at home.
The author is a civil servant and holds a PhD in Consumer Behavior from HEC Paris, France.
