Prime Minister, Narendra Modi attended a bilateral meeting with UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres and subsequently launched Mission LiFE at the Statue of Unity, Ekta Nagar, Kevadia, Gujarat. Congratulatory video messages on the launch of Mission LiFE by the heads of 11 nations representing all regions of the United Nations were also relayed.
Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister informed that India is like a second home for Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and he had travelled to India many times during the days of his youth. He further pointed out the ancestral connection of Guterres with the state of Goa in India.
The Prime Minister expressed delight at the support that has been showered upon India for taking up the Mission LiFE initiative and thanked the heads of all nations for sending in their congratulatory messages on this gracious occasion.
The Prime Minister pointed towards the prevailing notion that climate change is an issue only related to policy that leads to a thought process that leaves this all-important issue only to the government or international organisations. He said that 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.
Modi remarked, “The mantra of Mission Life is ‘Lifestyle For Environment’. Emphasising the benefits of Mission LiFE, the Prime Minister said that it connects the powers of the people for the protection of this earth, and teaches them to utilise it in a better way. 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”, the Prime Minister said. He gave the example of the adoption of LED bulbs in India for reducing electricity bills and protecting the environment. “This led to massive savings and environmental benefits and this is a recurring permanent benefit”, the Prime Minister added.
The Prime Minister elaborated that Mission LiFE emboldens the spirit of the P3 model i.e. Pro Planet People. Mission Life, unites the people of the earth as pro planet people, uniting them all in their thoughts. It functions on the basic principles of ‘Lifestyle of the planet, for the planet and by the planet’.
