Lifestyle for Environment (LiFE) Movement launched by PM Modi

What is the LiFE Movement?

The Hon'ble Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi announced Mission LiFE at the UN Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC COP26) in 2021 to put individual conduct at the forefront of the story of global climate action.

LiFE envisions a circular economy that would replace the prevalent 'use-and-dispose' economy, which is characterized by mindless and destructive consumption, with mindful and deliberate utilization. The Mission's goal is to encourage people to do small things in their daily lives that, if done globally, can have a big impact on climate change.

LiFE intends to use the power of social networks to influence social norms concerning climate change. The Mission intends to establish and nurture a global network of individuals known as 'Pro-Planet People' (P3) who are committed to adopting and promoting environmentally friendly lifestyles. The Mission hopes to create an ecosystem through the P3 community that will reinforce and enable environmentally friendly behaviours to be self-sustaining.

Approach of LiFE Campaign

✱ Individual Action 

By concentrating on the behaviours and attitudes of individuals and groups, you can turn life into a mass movement (Jan Andolan).

✱ Crowdsourcing of Ideas 

Crowdsource scalable and empirical ideas from the world's greatest thinkers through prestigious institutions, global organizations, and think tanks.

✱ Local Culture

Utilize the societal conventions, worldviews, and common home activities that are environmentally friendly to propel the campaign.

Why Individual action is important?

Compared to the global average of 4 tonnes, the annual carbon footprint of a person in India is 0.56 tonnes. India is well-positioned to lead the narrative of combating climate change through individual behaviours, in the form of a mass movement (Jan Andolan), LiFE, thanks to its traditional knowledge, social norms, and everyday family habits. 

                                                                                                    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 liters of water in a day, in brushing, bathing, utensils, laundry, etc. 30 minutes of idling at traffuc signals wastes nearly 1 litre of fuel.

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

Call for Global Ideas

In this regard, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), the World Resources Institute, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MOEFCC), and NITI Aayog (Behavioral Insights Unit) are seeking suggestions from all across the world for one of the following, or related areas:

1. Behaviour-change solutions aimed at individuals, households and communities to drive climate-friendly behaviours in sectors, including:

1. Water
2. Transport
3. Food
4. Electricity
5. Waste Management
6. Recycle
7. Reuse

2.  Innovative solutions that encourage widespread use of conventional, climate-friendly methods and/or provide communities with alternative means of subsistence if a move towards climate-friendly production results in a loss of jobs.

3. Best practices that can be feasibly scaled up to drive behaviour change related to climate action at the international, national, and/or local levels.

What PM Modi iterated at the conference:-

Today, via video conference, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi unveiled the "Lifestyle for the Environment - LiFE Movement" project. In order to encourage and persuade people, communities, and organisations all over the world to adopt an environmentally conscious lifestyle, the launch will kick off the "LiFE Global Call for Papers," which will invite ideas and suggestions from academics, universities, and research institutions, among others.

The Prime Minister addressed the gathering, stating that today is a suitable day for the worldwide project "Lifestyle for the Environment - LiFE Movement" to be launched. We launch the LiFE - Lifestyle for Environment Movement, he declared. He emphasised the urgent need to address the problem facing our world through human-centric, group efforts, and forceful action that promotes sustainable development.

The Prime Minister recalled that he had advocated this international initiative at COP26 the previous year. LiFE's mission, he continued, is to live in harmony with and without harming the environment. And individuals that follow this way of life are referred to as "Pro-Planet People." Mission LiFE draws inspiration from the past, works in the present, and thinks about the future. The ideals of "reduce, reuse, and recycle" are ingrained in our daily lives. Our culture and way of life have incorporated the circular economy.

The prime minister noted that Mahatma Gandhi advocated a carbon-neutral way of living. Let's choose the ones that are most sustainable in our daily decisions, he advised. He exhorted the group to adhere to the reuse, reduce, and recycle principle. Although there is just one world, there must be multiple efforts made. "India is prepared to support any initiative aimed at promoting global wellness and a healthier environment. Our prior performance speaks for itself," he said.