Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment)

Context

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched ‘Mission LiFE’ (Lifestyle for Environment) in the presence of U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres at the Statue of Unity in Gujarat.

About

• Mission LiFE is a new initiative for sustainable and healthy lifestyle. 
• With the contribution of every individual, Mission LiFE will make the fight against climate change democratic.
• It will help in tackling climate change and global warming, as the main challenges before the world and mankind. 
• Mr. Guterres unveiled the LiFE logo, tagline and released the Mission Document at the event. 

Significance of the LiFE Mission

• Fine Tuning of efforts: It will help in convergence with the measures such as setting up of solar power plants, installation of solar panels on canals and water conservation in drought-prone areas.
• Disaster Management: It will enable efforts in tackling environmental disasters and calamities and set the domestic and global trends for sustainable development.
• A global initiative: It will serve as a global initiative by India to help the world in its fight against climate change and promote a sustainable lifestyle to achieve the U.N. sustainable development goals by 2030. 
• Pro Planet People: It emboldens the spirit of the P3 model i.e. Pro Planet People, as it is premised on the basic principles of ‘Lifestyle of the planet, for the planet and by the planet’.
• India and the UN partnership: Both have joined hands in this new initiative which will become a global success. 

• For example, India’s proposed International Day of Yoga with the support of the UN, is inspiring global citizens to lead a healthy life.

• Harmony with nature: It will encompass every lifestyle related to the conservation of nature and environment adopted by our ancestors which made a part of our lifestyle today. 
• Fight Climate Change: The fight against climate change goes beyond policy making and needs wider support (individuals, the family, the community) to protect the environment, earth and humanity against climate-related disasters and extreme weather calamities. 
• A circular economy: The LiFE Mission further the adoption of the concept of ‘Reduce, Reuse and Recycle’ which will help in striking a balance between the development, economic growth and sustainability. 
• Net zero carbon footprint: This will help India and many countries of the world to achieve their goal of net zero carbon footprint.

India’s Position in Climate Change Efforts

• National Action Plan on Climate Change: India has been committed to tackle the menace of climate change with an emphasis on renewable energy. Example, the launch of the NAPCC in 2008.

• National Solar Mission (NSM)
• National Water Mission (NWM)
• National Mission for Sustaining Himalayan Ecosystem (NMSHE)  
• National Mission for Enhanced Energy Efficiency (NMEEE)
• National Mission on Sustainable Habitat (NMSH)
• National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA)
• Green India Mission (GIM)
• National Mission for Strategic Knowledge on Climate Change (NMSKCC)

• Carbon Footprint: India’s annual per capita carbon footprint in the country is only about 1.5 tons as compared to the world average of 4 tons per year. 
• India’s performance in Renewable Energy:

• India is ranked fourth in wind energy and fifth in solar energy. 
• India’s renewable energy capacity has increased by about 290 % in the last 7-8 years. 
• India has also achieved the target of 40% of the electric capacity from non-fossil-fuel sources nine years ahead of the deadline.

• The National Hydrogen Mission: Through it, India has moved towards an environment-friendly energy source. 
• International Solar Alliance: The UN Secretary General has lauded India’s initiative of the International Solar Alliance and for pursuing environmentally sound policies to promote renewable energy and reducing usage of fossil fuels. 
• The National Year of Millets 2018 was celebrated by India way before the International Year of Millets to be observed in 2023 and will become a global conversation.
• Successful case study: 

• Gujarat was the first state in India to initiate measures for the adoption of renewable energy and climate protection.
• Modhera Sun Temple near Ahmedabad where the entire village draws the power from solar panels installed in the temple campus as well as on the rooftops of the houses and the government offices. 

Way Forward

• India and the world together need to collaborate in driving forward the agenda of unleashing the renewable revolution. 
• Over-consumption is at the root of the triple planet emergency of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution and thus should be regulated.
• Countries worldover and the global institutions need to adopt the triple bottom line approach towards a healthy environmental governance of the 21st century. 
• This approach along with the LiFE Mission will enable balancing of the interests of people (development), planet (sustainability) and profit (economic growth).
• Prakriti Rakshati Rakshita: Those who protect nature, nature protects them.

Source: TH