New Delhi: On the World Environment Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a global initiative ‘Lifestyle for the Environment (LiFE) Movement’, and asserted that its vision is to live a lifestyle that is in tune with our planet and does not harm it. In a video address, PM Modi said that the people who adopt this lifestyle are ‘pro-planet people,’ and added that “Mission LiFE’ borrows from the past, operates in the present and focuses on the future. The PM used the slogan of ‘one earth, many efforts’, as he explained that India is ready to lend its support to actions to make the environment better and improve global wellness.
Talking about the state of the environment today, PM Modi said our planet’s challenges are well-known, and the need of the hour is human-centric, collective efforts and robust actions that further sustainable development. The Prime Minister added,
Reduce, reuse and recycle are the concepts woven into our life. The circular economy has been an integral part of our culture and lifestyle. Gods and goddesses in India have plants and animals associated with them, and nature is equated with divinity. Mahatma Gandhi talked about a zero-carbon lifestyle.
Also Read: How Has Climate Change Impacted Food Security In India’s Sundarbans
PM Modi urged everyone to pick the most sustainable options in our daily life choices.
Let us follow the principle of reuse, reduce and recycle. Our planet is one but our efforts have to be many. One earth, many efforts. India has been able to do many good things for the environment, with its forest cover increasing and so is the population of lions, tigers, leopards, elephants, and rhinos. Our commitment to reach 40 per cent of installed electric capacity from non-fossil fuel-based sources has been achieved, nine years ahead of schedule. We have achieved 10 per cent ethanol blending in petrol, five months ahead of the November 2022 target. This is a major accomplishment given that blending was hardly 1.5 per cent in 2013-14 and 5 per cent in 2019-20.
The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) has also stated that the launch will initiate “LiFE global call for papers,” inviting ideas and suggestions from academics, universities and research institutions to influence and persuade individuals, communities and organisations across the world to adopt an environment-conscious lifestyle.
Also Read: World Environment Day Special: Sundarbans – The Land Of Tides, Tigers And Threats
Earlier in the day, joining the Save Soil Movement by Sadhguru, PM Modi said India’s forest cover grew by over 20,000 sq km in last eight years – record growth in wildlife numbers too. He also said that India’s efforts to protect the environment are multi-dimensional even though its role in climate change negligible.
India is making this effort when India’s role in climate change is negligible. Large modern countries of the world are not only exploiting more and more resources of the earth, but maximum carbon emission goes to their account, PM Modi said.
He added that internationally, India has led the creation of CDRI and the International Solar Alliance. Last year, India has also resolved that it will achieve the target of net-zero by 2070.
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.
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