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India’s eco-friendly lifestyle is solution to climate crisis: Modi
Independence Day address: PM Modi said It is the job of the government to provide 24-hour electricity but it’s the duty of citizens to save as many units of electricity as possible
NEW DELHI:
India’s long-held ethos of eco-friendly, sustainable lifestyles can provide a solution to the global climate crisis, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in his Independence Day speech on Monday.
“We have a tradition of living with nature and loving nature. Today, when the world is facing an environmental crisis, India has the heritage and knowledge to provide solutions to the problems of global warming,” Modi said. “Our ancestors have given us these solutions.”
The Prime Minister had in November last year proposed a Lifestyle for the Environment (LIFE) movement at the United Nations annual climate summit held in Glasgow in the UK. He launched the LIFE movement on June 5 on the occasion of World Environment Day.
“When we talk about an environment-friendly lifestyle and LIFE mission, we attract the attention of the world,” he said on Monday. “We have this power.”
Modi lauded the Indian penchant for coarse cereals and millets. “This is our heritage,” he said. “Due to the hard work of our small farmers, paddy flourished on small pieces of land.”
“Today, the world is moving ahead to celebrate the millet year at the international level. That means our heritage is being appreciated around the world. Let us learn to be proud of it,” the Prime Minister said. “We have a lot to offer to the world.”
The need of the hour is to lead a disciplined life and it is the duty of citizens to conserve power and water, he said. It is the job of the administration to provide 24-hour electricity, but it is the duty of citizens to save as many units of power as possible, he added.
“It is our duty to provide water to every farm, but it is the duty of the farmers to ensure per drop more crop,” he said, adding that farmers should practise natural farming without using artificial chemicals.
India will strive to achieve its aims in the field of renewable energy, Modi said.
“Experience tells us that we can achieve our goals once we are determined. Be it the goal of renewable energy, the intention of building new medical colleges in the country or creating a workforce of doctors, the pace has increased a lot in every field,” he said. “And that’s why I say that the coming 25 years should be of huge resolutions. This should be our life and this should be our pledge.”
“We have to become independent in our manufacturing, particularly our energy sector. How long will we be dependent on others for energy? We should be self-reliant in the fields of solar energy, wind energy, and various other renewable energy sources like Mission Hydrogen (which aims to make India a global hub and exporter of green hydrogen), biofuel and electric vehicles,” he added.
India has updated its nationally determined contribution on emissions by pledging to reduce emissions intensity of its GDP by 45% by 2030 from the 2005 level, and achieve 50% of installed power capacity from non-fossil fuel-based energy sources by 2030, as promised by Modi at the Glasgow summit, the environment ministry said in a statement earlier this month.
The official commitment for climate action under the Paris Agreement will be communicated to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change soon, it said.
India’s third goal is to promote a healthy and sustainable way of living based on traditions and values of conservation and moderation, including through LIFE.
Work on LIFE has already started, environment ministry officials said, declining to be named. The Prime Minister’s Office, Niti Aayog and several other ministers are involved in chalking out the strategy, they said.
Niti Ayog is expected to take a lead role in laying down the strategy later this year, they added.
