Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres launched Mission LiFE, a global plan of action aimed at saving the planet from the disastrous consequences of climate change.

The action plan — a list of ideas on lifestyle changes that can be taken up as climate-friendly behaviour — along with the logo and tagline for Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) were jointly launched by Modi and Guterres. 

The launch comes ahead of next month’s mega UN climate meet in Egypt. 

Significance of Mission LiFE

• Environmental degradation and climate change are global phenomena where actions in one part of the world impact ecosystems and populations across the globe.

• Estimates suggest that if requisite action is not taken against the changing environment, approximately 3 billion people globally could experience chronic water scarcity. The global economy could lose up to 18 per cent of GDP by 2050.

• Over the last two decades, several macro measures have been implemented globally to address environmental degradation and climate change, including policy reforms, economic incentives and regulations. 

• Despite their enormous potential, actions required at the level of individuals, communities and institutions have received limited attention.

• Changing individual and community behaviour alone can make a significant dent in the environmental and climate crises. 

• 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 per cent.

• Throwaway culture and consumerism are deepening the climate crisis. The transition to a circular economy from today’s ‘take-make-use-dispose’ economy is the need of the hour.

• Annually, approximately 500 billion plastic bags are used worldwide. More than one million bags are used every minute. A plastic bag has an average “working life” of 15 minutes.

• An average global person wastes 2.5 litres of water in a day, in brushing, bathing, utensils, laundry, etc.

• Turning off lights, ACs and heaters when not in use can save up to 282 kilowatts of energy per day

• 30 minutes of idling at traffic signals wastes nearly one litre of fuel. 

The concept of Mission LiFE

• The idea of LiFE was introduced by Modi during the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow last year. 

• The idea promotes an environment-conscious lifestyle that focuses on “mindful and deliberate utilisation” instead of “mindless and destructive consumption”. 

• By developing innovative, individual-centric nudge mechanisms, which revolve around our existing social norms, and by leveraging technology, the climate change movement can receive a global impetus through LiFE.

• Mission LiFE aims at following a three-pronged strategy for changing our collective approach towards sustainability. 

• First is by nudging individuals to practise 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). 

• Third is to influence government and industrial policy to support both sustainable consumption and production (policy).

• The Mission plans to create and nurture a global network of individuals, namely ‘Pro-Planet People’ (P3), who will have a shared commitment to adopt and promote environmentally friendly lifestyles. Through the P3 community, the Mission seeks to create an ecosystem that will reinforce and enable environmentally friendly behaviours to be self-sustainable.

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