Lifestyle For Environment is a noble concept, but needs a holistic approach

Lifestyle For Environment is a noble concept, but needs a holistic approach

Subject: Environment

Context:

Mission LiFE

• 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.
• The main objectives enumerated in the LiFE concept are
  • saving energy at home,
  • cycling and using public transport instead of driving,
  • eating more plant-based food and wasting less, and
  • leveraging our position as customers and employees to demand climate-friendly choices.

LiFe places emphasis on the urban population

• The current objective of LiFE is better suited for the urban population because-
• urban people have access to air conditioners, freezers and other energy-consuming equipment which directly or indirectly influence climate change.
• The India’s rural population does not consume much energy because they do not have access to modern energy-consuming equipment.
• Rural communities are facing the direct impacts of climate change, because of their high dependence on natural resources.
• They are less prepared to tackle climate change impacts.

Rural population’s contribution to climate change-

• Rural population contributes less to global warming than urban population.
• The rural population contributes to environmental degradation differently.
• The local communities depend entirely on the forest for survival.
• Use of wood log for energy causes air pollution in rural areas.
• Natural forest was burnt to construct a residence in one area.
• Agricultural activities leads to groundwater exploitation, and greenhouse gas emissions.

India’s achievement-

• India’s commitment to reach 40% of installed electric capacity from non-fossil fuel-based sources has been achieved nine years ahead of schedule.
• The target of 10% ethanol blending in petrol has been achieved five months ahead of the November 2022 target.