India’s low carbon pathway to net-zero requires active participation by all stakeholders. Sustainable lifestyles, as well as climate justice, are the principles at its core, Union environment minister Bhupender Yodav stated at the HT Environment Conclave.
Yadav stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had already spoken of a new dimension to L.I.F.E. Lifestyle for the Environment. He said that this vision of development is based on Mindful, Deliberate Utilization and not Mindless and Decretive Consumption. It is a vision for sustainable production and consumption.
To realize this vision, we need a global movement known as Pro-Planet People. The Covid-19 pandemic caused a halt to growth and development around the world. Minister Aatmanirbhar Bharat is not only a way to recover from the pandemic and its aftermath but also a way to progress towards our goals of inclusive and pro–people and pro–Nature development, he stated Wednesday.
This years HT Environment Conclave’s theme is Environment, Social and Governance (ESG).
Let me assure that India has the 21st century, with inclusive growth and development. We are also trying to practice and imbibe Development with Design, especially in the infrastructure sector. Yadav stated that the country’s ambitious plans to transition to renewable energy include green hydrogen, energy efficiency measures and sustainable transport.
Yadav stated that the Union environment ministry has begun consultations with 40 climate and energy experts to develop the concept of sustainable lifestyles based upon the announcement made by PM Modis at the Glasgow climate conference (COP 26).
A senior official from the environment ministry said that last week’s developments were well-known. We met with more than 40 experts, some of whom came virtually from other parts to discuss how the sustainable lifestyles concept could be a major pillar for the climate debate.
India has asked developed countries to reduce their consumption at various forums. Some countries propose a target of reducing emissions to net zero by the middle of the century, but this is not feasible due to the rapidly-depleting global carbon area. India stated this in an official statement at the G20 energy & climate joint ministerial meeting in Jul last year. It urged G20 member nations (G20) whose per capita greenhouse gas (GHG), emissions are higher than the world average to reduce their levels by 2030.
According to data provided to Climate Watch by World Resources Institute India has 7.1% of global emissions. Its per capita emissions amount to 2.47 Tco2e (tonnes equivalent to carbon dioxide equivalent) as compared with the global average of 6.45tco2/per person. India’s per-capita emissions are seven times lower that those of the United States, 3.4x less than Chinas, and three times less than those of the European Union.