Indian premier, UN chief launch Mission LiFE to combat climate change

By Shuriah Niazi

NEW DELHI (AA) – India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UN chief Antonio Guterres on Thursday launched “Mission LiFE” to counter the effects of climate change.

The Mission LiFE, also known as Lifestyle for Environment, was launched at the Statue of Unity in western Gujarat state's Ekta Nagar and aimed at following a three-pronged strategy for changing people's collective approach towards sustainability.

Speaking on the occasion, Premier Modi said people are experiencing the effects of climate change in their surroundings, and in the last few decades unexpected calamities were witnessed.

“This is making it amply clear that climate change goes beyond only policy-making and people themselves are finding that they should contribute as an individual, families, and as communities to the environment,” he said.

He underlined that Mission LiFE makes the fight against climate change democratic, in which everyone can contribute within their capacity.

“Mission LiFE inspires us to do all that can be done in our everyday life to protect the environment. Mission LiFE believes that the environment can be protected by making changes in our lifestyle,” Modi said.

The program brought together 118 heads of Indian missions – ambassadors and high commissioners – from all over the world.

The three-day event will have 23 sessions and will provide an opportunity to have detailed internal discussions on issues such as the contemporary geo-political and geo-economic environment, connectivity, and India’s foreign policy priorities, according to an official statement.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said: “All of us, individuals and communities, can and must be part of the solution of protecting our planet and our collective futures. After all, over-consumption is at the root of the triple planet emergency of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution.”

He hoped the Mission LiFE movement will spread throughout the world.

Earlier, Modi had a long interaction with Guterres, who is on a three-day visit to India since Wednesday, said an official statement.