Climate Change Cannot Be Fought From Conference Rooms Alone, Must Be Fought At Dinner Table In Every Home: PM Modi

Washington: Bringing India’s viewpoints on ‘How Behavioural Change can Tackle Climate Change’ to the fore, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday (April 14) said one of the most powerful ways to fight climate change is a behavioural change that must begin at every home.

Climate change cannot be fought from conference tables alone, it has to be fought from the dinner tables in every home. When an idea moves from discussion tables to dinner tables, it becomes a mass movement. Making every family and every individual aware that their choices can help the planet can provide scale and speed, said PM Modi while delivering the keynote address, virtually at a LiFE initiative titled ‘How Behavioral Change can Tackle Climate Change’ at the World Bank. Mission LiFE is about democratizing the battle against climate change. Then people become conscious that simple acts in their daily lives are powerful, there will be a very positive impact on the environment, PM Modi said in his prepared remarks.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remarks got together global leaders to advance new ideas, insight and solutions to the biggest challenges facing the future of energy, environment and climate. He also lauded the efforts put in by the people of India, citing examples of behaviour change that have made an impact.

The people of India have done a lot in the last few years. People, even efforts to improve the sex ratio in many parts of India. It was the people who led a massive cleanliness drive, beach, reverse beaches or roads. They are ensuring public places are free of litter. And it was the people who made this switch to LED bulbs a success, PM informed the audience saying how the cautious use of energy, and resources and regulating India’s consumption patterns has led to substantial change.

Also Read: Climate Change Increasing Human-Animal Conflict: Conservationists 

Through his speech PM emphasised behavioural change, he also informed that the World Bank Group is looking to increase climate finance from 26 per cent to 35 per cent. PM Modi added,

These efforts will save over 22 billion units of energy. Save 9 trillion litres of water reduce waste by 375 million tonnes recycle almost 1 million tons of E-waste and generate around $170 million of additional cost saving by 2030. Or it will help us reduce the wastage of 15 billion tonnes of food, As a share of total financing the focus of this climate finance is usually on concern conventional aspects, adequate financing matters need to be worked out for behavioural initiatives to a show of support by the World Bank towards behavioural initiatives such as mission LiFE will have a multiplier effect, the Prime Minister concluded.

PM’s remarks were followed by a panel discussion in which India’s Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman also participated and stressed the efforts that the administration has put in so far when it comes to fighting Climate Change. Also present at the event was World Bank Chief David Malapass,

Great to hear from PM @NarendraModi today on India’s LiFE initiative focusing on the relationship between communities & their environment, he said.

Mr. David Malapass tweeted,

Adequate pricing policies & institutions combined with the right incentives can alter deeply entrenched habits & help protect the environment.

Also Read: India Must Prioritise Grants, Policies Around Vulnerable Population To Mitigate Climate Change Impact: IPCC Authors 

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

NDTV – Dettol have been working towards a clean and healthy India since 2014 via the Banega Swachh India initiative, which is helmed by Campaign Ambassador Amitabh Bachchan. The campaign aims to highlight the inter-dependency of humans and the environment, and of humans on one another with the focus on One Health, One Planet, One Future – Leaving No One Behind. It stresses on the need to take care of, and consider, everyone’s health in India – especially vulnerable communities – the LGBTQ population, indigenous people, India’s different tribes, ethnic and linguistic minorities, people with disabilities, migrants, geographically remote populations, gender and sexual minorities. In wake of the current COVID-19 pandemic, the need for WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) is reaffirmed as handwashing is one of the ways to prevent Coronavirus infection and other diseases. The campaign will continue to raise awareness on the same along with focussing on the importance of nutrition and healthcare for women and children, fight malnutrition, mental wellbeing, self care, science and health, adolescent health & gender awareness. Along with the health of people, the campaign has realised the need to also take care of the health of the eco-system. Our environment is fragile due to human activity, which is not only over-exploiting available resources, but also generating immense pollution as a result of using and extracting those resources. The imbalance has also led to immense biodiversity loss that has caused one of the biggest threats to human survival – climate change. It has now been described as a “code red for humanity.” The campaign will continue to cover issues like air pollution, waste management, plastic ban, manual scavenging and sanitation workers and menstrual hygiene. Banega Swasth India will also be taking forward the dream of Swasth Bharat, the campaign feels that only a Swachh or clean India where toilets are used and open defecation free (ODF) status achieved as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014, can eradicate diseases like diahorrea and the country can become a Swasth or healthy India.