MUMBAI: When the West was urbanising, it had free access to natural resources and limited obligations to the environment. The way its cities are shaped and its infrastructure developed, is a reflection of the bygone era, said India’s G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant.
During its G20 presidency, he said, India would push for homegrown and sustainable development plans based on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) initiative.
Today, as the world is reeling under pressure to keep carbon emissions low and find ways to develop without harming earth, it needs new models of development. Policymakers need to shed their “westernised” learning and incorporate indigenous and sustainable models of development, he said.
Kant was delivering the opening address at the second side event of the G20 Development Working group, on December 13 in Mumbai. The theme of the event was, ‘Infusing New LiFE into Green Development’.
Advocating the need for collective action to counter climate change, India’s G20 Sherpa said the issue requires a collective response. India’s quest for pushing LiFE as a long term solution will require participation of not just governments, but also of individuals, he said.
“Mission LiFE has a lot to do with nudging behaviour. It is not countries that will make the change, it is individual and collective behaviour that will make the difference,” Kant said. Supporting the initiative, Jetsun Pema, Queen of Bhutan said, “We commend and support the launch of Mission LiFE by Narendra Modi, which closely echoes Bhutan’s longstanding commitment to sustainability and environmental preservation.”
