COP27: India’s national statement lacked teeth; was centred around mission LiFE

COP27: India’s national statement lacked teeth; was centred around mission LiFE

Subject: Environment

Context:

India’s national statement made November 15, 2022 during the plenary session of the 27th Conference of Parties (COP27) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, was dominated by LiFE — ‘lifestyle for environment’ — that was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during COP26 at Glasgow.

Mission LiFE

• It is a global initiative by India to help the world in its fight against climate change and lead to a sustainable way of life to achieve the sustainable development goals set by the U.N.
• Introduced by India during the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow in 2021.
• Launched at Statue of Unity, Gujrat
• Piloted by NiTi Aayog and implemented by- Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate change.
• The idea promotes an environmentally conscious lifestyle that focuses on ‘mindful and deliberate utilization’ instead of ‘mindless and wasteful consumption i.e. Net-zero living or sustainable lifestyle.
• On 5 June 2022, on World Environment Day, India furthered the vision of LiFE by launching the LiFE Global Movement, inviting academicians, researchers, and start-ups across the world to think about specific and scientific ways in which the full potential of collective action can be harnessed to address the environmental crisis.
• The Mission encourages the P3 model, i.e., Pro Planet People.
• Advocates for the circular economy.
• Mission LiFE makes everyone trustees of the environment.
• Mission LiFE aims at following a three-pronged strategy–
  • First is by nudging individuals to practice simple yet effective environment-friendly actions in their daily lives (demand);
  • Second is by enabling industries and markets to respond swiftly to the changing demand (supply) and;
  • Third is to influence government and industrial policy to support both sustainable consumption and production (policy).
• Mobilize at least one billion Indians and other global citizens to take individual and collective action for protecting and preserving the environment in the period 2022 to 2027.

India’s commitment to Mission LiFE

• The annual per capita carbon footprint in the country is only about 1.5 tons, compared to the world average of 4 tons per year while India has the fourth largest capacity for renewable energy in the world.
• 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.
• The country has also achieved the target of 40% of the electric capacity from non-fossil-fuel sources nine years ahead of the deadline.
• National Hydrogen Mission to move towards an environment-friendly energy source. This will help India achieve its goal of a net zero carbon footprint.
• Establishment of the International Solar Alliance
• Leading the creation of the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure

India had launched several initiatives to support the fight against climate change:

• National Afforestation Programme (NAP)
• National Mission for a Green India (GIM)
• National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC)
• National Biodiversity Action Plan