Lifestyle for the Environment (LiFE) Movement

On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of World Environment Day, India launched the global initiative Lifestyle for the Environment (LiFE) Movement to influence and persuade individuals, communities and organisations across the world to adopt an environment-conscious lifestyle.

The topic falls under the category of the GS Paper 3 Environment, of the IAS Exam. As it is well known that current affairs are asked in both the Prelims and the Mains exam, hence this topic becomes extremely important from the exam point of view. In this article, we will discuss all the important details like the vision, mission and significance of the LiFE Initiative.

Read in detail about the World Environment Day, in the linked article.

What is LiFE Movement? 

India proposed the LiFE Movement to the United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow in 2021. The introduction of the LiFE Movement will begin the ‘LiFE Global Call for Papers,’ which will solicit ideas and suggestions from academics, universities, and research institutes, among others.

• • The idea of LiFE promotes an environmentally conscious lifestyle that focuses on ‘mindful and deliberate utilisation’ instead of ‘mindless and wasteful consumption.
  • The LiFE Movement is a global effort dedicated to improving human sustainability and environmental protection.
  • The LiFE Movement aims to bring positive change in the environment by collective action.

Read about UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in the linked article.

Vision and Mission Of LiFE Initiative

• Vision: LiFE’s vision is to live a lifestyle that is in sync with the environment and does not hurt our planet. 
• Mission: Global leaders have praised India for emphasising individual behaviour change in response to climate change.
• The goal of the LiFE initiative is to encourage people all over the world to undertake basic climate-friendly acts in their everyday lives or to embrace an environmentally conscious lifestyle. 
• It also aims to make the best use of social networks in order to affect social norms concerning climate change.
• The Mission is to establish and develop a global network of persons known as ‘Pro-Planet People‘ (P3).
• The Circular Economy has always been a part of Indian culture and lifestyle, and the LiFE movement envisions replacing the prevalent ‘use-and-dispose’ economy with a circular economy. The LiFE initiative uses the concept of Reduce, Reuse and Recycle that are woven into our life. 

Go through the Important Environment Conventions & Protocols, to tackle questions on such topics.

What is the P3 in LiFE Initiative?

• The Mission of the initiative is to establish and develop a global network of persons known as ‘Pro-Planet People‘ (P3).
• P3 will commit to adopting and promoting environmentally friendly lifestyles.
• The Mission is to develop an ecosystem through the P3 community that will promote and allow environmentally beneficial behaviours to be self-sustaining.

Read more about the Stockholm Convention in the linked article.

India’s Achievements towards a Sustainable Environment

• India’s promise to generate 40% of installed electric capacity from non-fossil fuel sources has been met nine years ahead of schedule. 
  • As of 30 November 2021, the country’s installed Renewable Energy (RE) capacity was 150.54 GW ( wind: 40.03 GW, solar: 48.55 GW, Small hydro Power: 4.83, Large Hydro: 46.51 GW, Bio-power: 10.62), while its nuclear energy-based installed capacity was 6.78 GW.
• Local efforts in India, such as POSHAN, ASHA  and Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, are assisting in financial inclusion and localisation. Earn more about these in the links given below:
  • ASHA Workers
  • Swachh Bharat Abhiyan
• The population of lions, tigers, leopards, elephants, and rhinos in India is growing, as is the country’s forest cover.
  •  In 2021, total forest cover is 21.71 percent of the geographical area, up from 21.67 percent in 2019 and 21.54 percent in 2017.
• The aim of 10% ethanol blending in gasoline has been met five months ahead of the November 2022 deadline. This is a significant achievement given that blending was just 1.5 percent in 2013-14 and 5 percent in 2019-20.

Learn what is Green India Mission, by visiting the linked article.

Overview of India’s Commitments at Glasgow Summit- COP 26

• India’s Goal by 2030: 
  • By 2030, India will ensure that 50 percent of its energy comes from renewable sources.
  • India will also install 500 GW of renewable energy by 2030, a 50 GW increase above its current plans.
  • India’s emissions intensity per unit of GDP would also be reduced by less than 45 percent.
  • India will cut its carbon emissions by a billion tonnes by 2030.
• India’s Goal for 2070: 
  • India’s goal for 2070 is to attain net-zero emissions.
  • In the run-up to the COP, India has vigorously rejected requests from wealthier countries to adopt net-zero objectives.

Read: What is Global Methane Pledge?

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