Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Sadhguru attends a programme on 'Save Soil Movement', on the occasion of World Environment Day, at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi on June 5. (PTI Photo)
New Delhi, June 5 (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday launched the 'Lifestyle for the Environment (LiFE) Movement', a global initiative, and asserted that its vision is to live a lifestyle that is in tune with our planet and does not harm it.
Those who live such a lifestyle are called pro-planet people," he said in a video address, and added that "Mission LiFE' borrows from the past, operates in the present and focuses on the future.
Giving the slogan of "one earth, many efforts", he said India is ready to lend its support to actions to make environment better and improve global wellness.
With the launch coinciding with World Environment Day, Modi said our planet's challenges are well-known, and the need of the hour is human-centric, collective efforts and robust actions that further sustainable development.
"Reduce, reuse and recycle are the concepts woven in our life. Circular economy has been an integral part of our culture and lifestyle," Modi said, noting that gods and goddesses in India have plants and animals associated with them, and nature equated with divinity.
"Mahatma Gandhi talked about a zero-carbon lifestyle. In our daily life choices, let us pick the most sustainable options. Let us follow the principle of reuse, reduce and recycle. Our planet is one but our efforts have to be many. One earth, many efforts," he said.
India has been able to do many good things for the environment, with its forest cover increasing and so is the population of lions, tigers, leopards, elephants and rhinos, he said.
He added, "Our commitment to reach 40 per cent of installed electric capacity from non-fossil fuel-based sources has been achieved, nine years ahead of schedule. We have achieved 10 per cent ethanol blending in petrol, five months ahead of the November 2022 target. This is a major accomplishment given that blending was hardly 1.5 per cent in 2013-14 and 5 per cent in 2019-20."
The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) had earlier said the launch will initiate "LiFE global call for papers," inviting ideas and suggestions from academics, universities and research institutions to influence and persuade individuals, communities and organisations across the world to adopt an environment-conscious lifestyle.
Bill Gates, Co-Chairman of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, was among many dignitaries who attended the programme.
India to meet 50% per cent of its energy needs from renewable resources by 2030: Minister
Union Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Giriraj Singh on Sunday said India has set an ambitious target of meeting half of its energy needs from renewable resources by the decade-end and reach the net zero emission levels by 2070.
The minister said the word is facing consequences of developed nations' exploitations of the nature.
Around 18 per cent of the world's population lives in India on just 2.4 per cent of land, yet the country's contribution to carbon emission is only 5 per cent, he said.
To combat the climate change, he said the country has adopted a five-point agenda, which includes meeting its 50 per cent of its energy demand every year, which is 500 GW, from renewable resources by 2030.
India will reduce carbon emissions by one billion tonnes a year till 2030, the minister said.
"By 2070, the country will achieve the target of net zero emissions," Singh added.
The minister said there should be a discussion on environment in homes and village panchayats.
Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from news agency feeds and has not been edited by The Morung Express.
Source: PTI
