On the basis of the United Nation Environment Programme(UNEP), the Government of Karnataka(GoK) has taken up initiatives of spreading sustainable lifestyle awareness among its people.
Environmental Management and Policy Research Institute (EMPRI) under the Karnataka Forest, Ecology and Environment Department is conducting various programs in different education institution to make citizens aware of the importance of sustainable lifestyle.
At an Earth Day event held by the EMPRI, the institute spoke of the UNEP report which showed that sustainable lifestyle can substantially decrease carbon emissions. The report also stated that sustainable lifestyle choices can decrease carbon emissions by 20 percent.
Dr. Vinaya Chaitanya, programme officer from EMPRI said, “If we want to control our temperature and rising sea levels , then we need to make small lifestyle changes. “ She emphasized that lifestyle, if made sustainable and environment-friendly, can improve the environment’s health by decreasing carbon emissions.
Sudarshan G, Accounting Officer of the Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Chest Diseases, who has been part of many environmental audits said, “The Karnataka State government and the central government have many project to fight climate change but the execution is not up to the mark.” He added, “We need to pay more attention to our natural resources.”
On the occasion of Earth Day, EMPRI and Rajiv Gandhi Institution of Chest Diseases organized a Walkthon for sustainable lifestyle.
Chaitanya further talked of how adopting small habits can help in big ways. She said, “If we use the water that gets discharged from our water filter for other household chores, we will be able to save a lot of water.”
She added that garbage disposal continues to be a persistent problem among Bengalureans which has consistently affected environment in the city. Chaitanya said “In the JP Nagar forest area, the residents dump their garbage in the forest land. We need to be mindful about our surroundings.” She also talked about the importance of waste segregation (dry waste and wet waste) and recycling e-waste.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi introduced the concept of LiFE at COP26 in Glasgow on 1st November, 2021. On 5 June 2022, on the occasion of World Environment Day, India furthered the vision of LiFE by launching the LiFE Global Movement and invited researchers, academics, startup from across the world.
Mission LiFE’s main objective is to mobilise at least one billion Indians and other global citizens to take individual and collective action for protecting and preserving the environment in the period 2022 to 2027.
Sandeep Anirudhan, founder of Conscious Communities, an environmental welfare association based in Bengaluru, said, “We have already started seeing the effect of climate change in the form of heat wave, floods and disease. Millions of climate refugees are migrating to different countries but we are doing very little to switch to sustainable lifestyle.”
A Financial Express article reported climate change is going to affect India’s gross domestic product (GDP) by 80 percent, leading to up to $6 trillion worth of loss in the GDP. It further reported that over the next 50 years, the services, manufacturing, retail and tourism, construction, and transport are the top five industries that will be most affected and exposed to climate change disasters
Rajashree, a second year nursing student of Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Chest Disease said, “I don’t know much about sustainable lifestyle but I do care about climate change.”
