LIFESTYLE FOR ENVIRONMENT(LiFE)

In November 2021, at the Cop 26 in Glasgow Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in addition to announcing the panchamrit, or five climate-related commitments of the country, also articulated the concept of Lifestyle for the Environment (LiFE )- advocating for” mindful and deliberate utilization” by people worldwide instead of mindful and wasteful consumption.

IMPLICATION OF RISING TEMPERATURE OF EARTH 

• It is estimated that the global economy could lose up to 18% of GDP, and India could lose $6 trillion by 2050 if no climate action is taken
• In India alone, more than 50 % of our largely rural workforce will be negatively affected by climate change.
• Food and water security are already threatened across the world due to the climate crisis

According to United Nation Environment Programme (UNEP), if one billion people out of the global population of close to eight billion adopt eco-friendly behaviours in their daily lives, global carbon emissions could drop by approximately 20%.

such eco-friendly behaviours include turning off ACs heaters and lights when not in use as this, for instance, can conserve up to 282 kilowatts of electricity per day

Avoiding food wastage can reduce an individual’s carbon footprint by 370 kg per year. Reducing one flight trip per year can reduce per capita carbon emissions by 700 to 2800 kg.

There is an urgent need for individuals to transcend geographical, social and economic boundaries and come together as a global community to tackle the climate crisis.

India can lead the global climate debate by nudging the world toward a new model of sustainable and inclusive development through the Lifestyle for the Environment (LiFE) movement

ABOUT LiFE

LiFE was launched on June 5, 2022, world Environment day by PM Modi

VISION-harnessing the power of individual and collective action across the world to address the climate crisis.

The objective of the movement is to nudge individuals and communities to adopt simple and specific climate-friendly behaviours in their daily lifestyles.

LiFE is planned as a first-of-its-kind global movement, led by India in partnership with other countries that will provide the world with a unique people-powered platform to relentlessly focus on bringing individual and collective actions to the core of the climate action narrative.

LiFE aims to activate the global community “Pro Planet People “ 

PRECEDENTS OF PRO-PLANET INITIATIVES

• Denmark promotes the use of bicycles by limiting parking within the city centre and providing exclusive bike lanes
• Japan has its unique “Walk to School “mandate

CONSUME RESPONSIBLY :

The prevailing perception that climate-friendly behaviour necessarily implies a frugal lifestyle has played a major role in preventing populations worldwide from adopting a sustainable lifestyle.

LiFE plans to methodically break down this mental model by nudging the world to consume responsibly, rather than consuming less.

Building on the unique insights from India‘s recent Jan Andolan such as Swachh Bharat Mission, LiFE will deploy a range of tested behavioural techniques, including nudges, social and behaviour change communication and norm influencing to make mindful consumption a mass movement

PRODUCE RESPONSIBLY:

If sustainable choices are not supported from the supply side any change in our consumption pattern will only be temporary.

While policies and regulations incentivize the sustainability market to a limited extent, a long-term and stable shift in what and how the market supplies will have to be triggered by what the consumers demand.

By nudging the consumption patterns of the society at scale, Life can also trigger a huge boost for the sustainability market. Several green industries and a large number of jobs are likely to be initiated as a positive externality of LiFE.

LIVE RESPONSIBLY:

As a global community of people with a shared natural world, a threat to one is a threat to all. In this context, through its multi-dimensional, multicultural and global approach, the LiFE movement can play a pivotal role in not merely reversing the effects of climate change but at a broader level mainstream a harmonious and mindful way of living – a staple of Indian culture and tradition practised by its people over centuries.

The time is ripe for India to lead the LiFE movement and mainstream it into the climate narrative. By December, India will assume the presidency of the G-20, a group that covers 60% of the global population, 80% of the global GDP and 75% of global exports. This puts us in a pole position to shape the global development model.