A new lease of life for climate action

Our world today is in turmoil, facing multiple, mutually reinforcing crises. Even when we mount a fragile recovery from covid-19 pandemicWar fuels a devastating energy, food and life cost crisis. And for the first time since it started 30 years ago, Human Development Report of the United Nations Development Program The U.S. has warned that global human development measures have declined in most countries over the past two years.

It comes against the backdrop of the biggest existential threat of all – the triple planetary crisis of climate change, pollution and loss of biodiversity. Nine of the hottest years on record have come in the past decade alone. This year’s record-breaking heat waves, floods, droughts and other extreme forms of weather have forced us to face these increasingly devastating effects. Climate change is a disruption multiplier in a disrupted world, holding back progress in the Global Sustainable Development Goals.

Paris Agreement And this COP26 Summit in Glasgow They represent the urgent, collective steps that countries are taking to limit emissions. Still, the window of action is closing fast. The commitments we have now that we will not stay warm below the 1.5°C target gives us the best chance of averting catastrophe.

With the narrative focused on geopolitics, the scope for each of us to make a difference seems to be rapidly lost. While governments and industry bear great responsibility for responding to the crisis, we as consumers play a big role in driving unsustainable production methods.

life, a new perspective

Life, or Lifestyle for the Environment, announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi COP26 in November 2021, brings a new and much needed perspective. Rather than framing climate change as a ‘larger than life’ challenge, LIFE recognizes that small individual actions can strike the balance in favor of the planet. But we need a guiding framework, information sharing and a scale of global movement.

Conscious choices created by LIFE animate this feeling – tasks such as saving energy at home; bicycling and using public transport instead of driving; eating more plant-based foods and wasting less; and taking advantage of our position as customers and employees seeking climate-friendly options.

Many of the goals of LIFE can be achieved by applying ‘nudge’, gentle persuasion techniques to encourage positive behavior. The United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) employs proven nudge techniques such as discouraging food waste by offering small plates in cafeterias; encourage recycling by making bin lids attractive; and encourage cycling by creating cycle paths. According to UNEP, more than two-thirds of greenhouse gas emissions can be attributed to household consumption and lifestyle – immediate reductions in global emissions can only be achieved through widespread adoption of greener consumption habits than we can expect. Is.

And while LIFE is a global vision, India is an excellent place to start. With over 1.3 billion people, if we achieve a true goal mass movement Here, the generated speed will be very high. As India progresses, we see the world rapidly following.

India’s track record

Today from the Statue of Unity in Gujarat, this vision of LIFE is taking flight as a global mission launched by Mr. Modi along with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who has come to India to show his support. The Prime Minister and the Secretary-General are calling on all consumers around the world to become “Pro Planet People” by 2027, embracing simple lifestyle changes that can collectively bring about transformative change.

India has a proven track record of transforming the aspirations of national missions into the efforts of the entire society. The success of the Swachh Bharat Mission, which inspired individuals and communities from socio-economic strata to become drivers of collective good health and sanitation, is an example.

The LIFE mission also recognizes that accountability is relative to contribution. Emissions in the poorest half of the world’s population are still less than 1% of those of the wealthiest. Those who consume the least, often the most vulnerable and marginalized members of society, will not be asked to consume less, but will be supported to participate in the green economy. Each ‘Pro Planet’ stakeholder is given a nudge according to differentiated perspectives.

burden on the developed world

The same thing applies in all countries. LIFE resonates with global climate justice, which India has rightly called for highlighting the increased obligations in developed countries to support climate adaptation and mitigation for those most affected, yet least responsible. has done. The average carbon footprint of a person in a high-income country is 80 times greater than that of a person in a least developed country. This is common sense and it is appropriate to call on the developed world to take up a proportionate share of this transition. In the words of Mahatma Gandhi, “There is enough in the world for everyone’s need, but not enough for everyone’s greed.”

And there has never been a better time to lead India on climate action, at home and on the international stage. From the Panchamrut goals announced by Mr. Modi at COP26, to support for the International Solar Alliance, disaster resilient infrastructure and South-South cooperation platforms, with vibrant businesses from the world’s fifth-largest economy investing heavily in renewables and electric mobility . India brings scale, expertise and legitimacy to a world-class public digital technology stack; A well established UN member state is bridging the G20 and G77.

With COP27 next month, and India set to assume the G20 Presidency the week after, next year at the halfway point of Agenda 2030, we at Team UN India and our 26 institutions are proud and committed partners in this mission to create new help with leasing. Life for Climate Action.

Shombi Sharp is the UN Resident Coordinator in India. Shoko Noda is the Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme. Atul Bagai is the country head of the United Nations Environment Program