India Brings ‘Mission LiFE’ To United Nations Through Special Exhibition

United Nations: India is hosting a special exhibition at the UN headquarters in New York, focused on ‘Mission LiFE’ (Lifestyle for Environment), an initiative launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UN chief Antonio Guterres that aims to encourage sustainable living. The two-day exhibition was inaugurated on Wednesday (August 16), and is being attended by diplomats, UN officials and delegates.

Addressing the gathering, India’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj said,

We begin an inspiring journey together – the voyage of Mission LIFE!.

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She noted that Prime Minister Modi launched the initiative in partnership with UN Secretary-General António Guterres in October 2022 aimed at “uniting our efforts for a greener, more sustainable future.” She said,

Mission LIFE is not just a government programme, it is also a collective commitment that begins with every individual. It is about recognising the power of small changes in our daily lives that collectively create a monumental impact on our environment. By adopting eco-friendly practices, we are not just altering our routines, we are shaping a new destiny for our planet.

Ms Kamboj underlined that the days of mindless consumption are over and the ‘Mission LIFE’ champions the principle of mindful utilisation, where every resource counts, and every action is a conscious step towards sustainability.

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She further added,

It is a call to action to replace wasteful habits with prudent choices, that ensure the vitality of our ecosystem for generations to come. Through the exhibition, the various themes of Mission LiFE – save energy, save water, say no to single-use plastic, adopt sustainable food systems, reduce waste, adopt healthy lifestyles and reduce e-waste are prominently displayed.

A prominent cut-out of ‘Prakriti’, the Mission LiFE girl mascot is also on display with her messages of sustainable living.

Screens showcase messages of PM Modi when he had launched the global plan of action aimed at encouraging people towards sustainable living.

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The Mission LiFE action plan – a list of ideas on lifestyle changes that can be taken up as climate-friendly behaviour – along with the logo and tagline for Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) were jointly launched by PM Modi and Mr Guterres at Kevadia, in Gujarat in October last year, during the Secretary General’s visit to the country.

PM Modi had asked people to adopt the concept of ‘reduce, reuse and recycle’ and circular economy and said India is committed to tackling the menace of climate change. Kamboj said the mission is a testament to India’s unwavering commitment to Mother Earth and the well-being of the citizens.

She urged UN envoys as well as the international community to join the movement and be the change-makers who rewrite the narrative of the planet’s future. The Indian envoy said,

Let’s build a legacy of responsible stewardship that our children will be proud to inherit. Together, let’s make Mission LIFE the beacon of hope for a sustainable tomorrow.

Also Read: UNCTAD Measures Progress On Sustainable Development Goals, Shows Impact Of Global Crises

(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 – theLGBTQ 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 currentCOVID-19 pandemic, the need for WASH (Water,SanitationandHygiene) 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, fightmalnutrition, 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 scavengingand sanitation workers andmenstrual hygiene. Banega Swasth India will also be taking forward the dream of Swasth Bharat, the campaign feels that only a Swachh or clean India wheretoiletsare used andopen defecation free (ODF)status achieved as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched byPrime Minister Narendra Modiin 2014, can eradicate diseases like diahorrea and the country can become a Swasth or healthy India.