Fight against climate change should start at dinner tables, says PM Modi

Washington: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said that the fight against climate change should begin as a behavioural change at home. "Climate change cannot be fought from conference tables alone, it has to be fought from the dinner tables in every home."

Delivering the keynote address, virtually at a LiFE initiative titled 'How Behavioral Change can Tackle Climate Change' at the World Bank, he said that an idea becomes a mass movement when it moves from discussion tables to dinner tables. "Making every family and every individual aware that their choices can help the planet can provide scale and speed."

He added that Mission LiFE is about democratising the battle against climate change. "Then people become conscious that simple acts in their daily lives are powerful, there will be a very positive impact on the environment," reported ANI.

He also praised Indians for setting examples of behaviour changes that made an impact. "The people of India have done a lot in the last few years. People, even efforts to improve the sex ratio in many parts of India. It was the people who led a massive cleanliness drive, beach, reverse beaches, or roads. They are ensuring public places are free of litter. And it was the people who made this switch to LED bulbs a success."

He added that people are cautious about using energy and resources and the regulation of consumption patterns led to substantial changes. "These efforts will save over 22 billion units of energy. Save 9 trillion litres of water, reduce waste by 375 million tonnes, recycle almost 1 million tons of E-waste, and generate around $170 million of additional cost saving by 2030. Or it will help us reduce the wastage of 15 billion tonnes of food."

Speaking about the financial aspect of fighting against the climate crisis, he said the World Bank Group is looking to increase climate finance from 26% to 35%. "As a share of total financing, the focus of this climate finance is usually on concern conventional aspects, adequate financing matters need to be worked out for behavioural initiatives to a show of support by the World Bank towards behavioural initiatives such as mission LiFE will have a multiplier effect."