| Introduction: Contextual introduction. Body: Explain how LIFE or Lifestyle for Environment brings a fresh and much-needed perspective to tackle climate change. Conclusion: Write a way forward. |
According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), if one billion people out of the global population of eight billion adopt environment-friendly behaviours in their daily lives, global carbon emissions could drop by approximately 20 percent. In this context, at UN Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC COP26), India announced Mission LIFE, or Lifestyle for Environment to bring individual behaviours at the forefront of the global climate action narrative.
LIFE brings a fresh and much-needed perspective to tackle climate change in following manners:
- Focus on Individual Behaviours: Make life a mass movement (Jan Andolan) by focusing on behaviours and attitudes of individuals and communities.
- Co-create Globally: Crowdsource empirical and scalable ideas from the best minds of the world, through top universities, think tanks and international organisations.
- Leverage Local Cultures: Leverage climate-friendly social norms, beliefs and daily household practices of different cultures worldwide to drive the campaign.
- Individual Action is the core of Climate Responsibility: The average carbon footprint of a person in India is 0.56 tonnes per year, compared to the global average of 4 tonnes. India’s traditional knowledge, social norms and daily household practices address climate change through individual behaviours.
- Mindful choices such as cycling and using public transport, eating more plant-based foods and wasting less; and demanding climate-friendly choices etc. animate a global movement.
- Nudging techniques such as discouraging food waste by offering smaller plates in cafeterias; encouraging recycling by making bin lids eye-catching; and encouraging cycling by creating cycle paths etc. to encourage positive behaviour.
- Accountability is relative to contribution: Emissions across the poorest half of the world’s population combined still fall short of even 1% of the wealthiest. Those who consume the least, often the most vulnerable and marginalised members of society should be supported to participate in the green economy.
- Replaces the ‘use-and-dispose’ economy with a circular economy, which would be defined by mindful and deliberate utilization of resources.
- Global network of individuals: The Mission plans to create a global network of individuals, namely ‘Pro-Planet People’ (P3), who will have a shared commitment to adopt and promote environmentally friendly lifestyles.
Translating our intention to do good for the environment is not always easy to translate into action. However, it is not impossible. By taking one action at a time and making one change daily, we can significantly reduce the impacts of climate change.
