14 November 2022, NIICE Commentary 8399
Dr. Manan Dwivedi & Shonit Nayan
India has always been an initiator as far as the notion of global human security is concerned. Religious adherence to the theme of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) has been one of the foreign policy fortes of a nation on an upswing. The targets of the order of poverty eradication (SDG 1), women empowerment (SDG 5), labor discourse (SDG 8), and others add to the feathers in the cap of the international organizations, which New Delhi, too has been striving for in the larger context of sustainability and returning back to Mother Nature what we have usurped from her. In the earlier United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) gatherings PM Narendra Modi has been raising the hallowed corridors of international peace and justice. PM Narendra Modi initiated or launched the LiFE initiative i.e. Lifestyle for Forest and Environment in the august presence of United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres with the objective being to attain a global Green scenario.
The policy of LiFE endorsed by India will have an immense effect in the ongoing twenty-seventh session of the United Nations Conference of Parties (COP-27). In the biggest climate change conference, which commenced on the 7th of November in the city of Sharm-el-Sheikh, Egypt, the major issues that can be raised strongly by India are – COP for Action, Transparency on Climate Financial Scenario, technology exchanges, and components within the scope of macro-financial climates.
It has been estimated by experts that even if one billion people out of the global population of eight billion take up the onerous task of adopting a climate-friendly and Green lifestyle then there would be a drastic cutback by 20 percent in the total carbon emissions of the larger international system. The LiFE mission was officially introduced at Glasgow city’s COP- 26 in the year 2021. It was in his words “an international movement towards mindful and deliberate utilization, instead of mindless and destructive consumption” to bring the Global system to a greener and much more sustainable future where the Sanatani perspective of human security goes back to the neophyte times of the yester years. The Indian initiative involves a completely conjoined striving towards environmental sustainability in all aspects through brilliant individual and collective instrumentalities. The National Security Strategy of the United States of America as expostulated by President Joe Biden too mentions India’s name as being the epicenter of liberal democracy and the time is ripe for India to take up a Global leadership role along with the regulating role of the US and other democratic denominations in the larger world.
In the excerpts of NITI Aayog, it can be gleaned from them that, “LiFE envisions replacing the prevalent ‘use-and-dispose’ economy—governed by mindless and destructive consumption—with a circular economy, which would be defined by mindful and deliberate utilization. The Mission intends to nudge individuals to undertake simple acts in their daily lives that can contribute significantly to climate change when embraced across the world.” The Modian effort and declaration do not amount to mere rhetoric but instill a sense of purpose in the Global agenda and the strivings of International organizations of the order of the United Nations and the G20. Also, embedded in the notion of LiFE happens to be the nom de plume of spiritualism and the Panch Tatvas, which yield stability, stealth, and pelf to individuals, nations and the larger collectivity of the larger international system. One can also contend that it’s a rejection and a global effort to stall the unmitigated strains of crass consumption and bring the entire narrative in line with the context of a stable, greener, and much “smarter” comity of nations. India’s initiative aims to engage all the socio-economic networks to make an impact upon the social norms which will further validate human security and climate justice. In the larger context of the Global call of ideas, the one earmarking the LiFE initiative is an extension of the Global responsibility of world leaders and their collective populations to acquire sustainable balance in the growth outcomes and their attendant aftermaths. New Delhi’s stress of development with the add-ons of the upliftment of the; person at the extremity of the growth and economic chains gets an ample reflection of the inclusivity and social change embedded in the LiFE initiative.
The world leaders have hailed the LiFE initiative as being a smart and timely move by the New Delhi denomination utilizing the adjective “Impressive”. In the year 2010, the UN Secretary-General penned a report drawing an indelible connection between human nature and the human beings. The Life clarion call by India is further making India a strong contender in terms of an initiator nation, which not only thinks pro-actively about sound global environmental health but also is kind of a connective link between COP-26 and current COP-27 i.e. Sharm El-Sheikh Adaptation Agenda and 30 Adaptation Outcomes.
Dr Manan Dwivedi is an Assistant Professor at Indian Institute of Public Administration, India & Shonit Nayan is a Fellow at India Smart City Fellowship Program, Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs, India
