Integrating Mission LiFE with National Action Plan on Climate Change

General Studies Paper-3

Context: The government is considering adding Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) to the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC).

Mission LiFE

• At the 2021 UN Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC COP26), India announced Mission LiFE, to bring individual behaviors at the forefront of the global climate action narrative.
• The mission envisions replacing the prevalent ‘use-and-dispose’ economy with a circular economy, which would be defined by mindful and deliberate utilization.
• In India, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, GoI (MoEF&CC) is the nodal Ministry for national level coordination and implementation of Mission Life.

Approach of Mission LiFE

• Focus on Individual Behaviors: Make life a mass movement (Jan Andolan) by focusing on behaviors and attitudes of individuals and communities.
• Co-create Globally: Crowdsource empirical and scalable ideas from the best minds of the world, through top universities, think tanks and international organizations.
• Leverage Local Cultures: Leverage climate-friendly social norms, beliefs and daily household practices of different cultures worldwide to drive the campaign.

National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC)

• The NAPCC is India’s comprehensive policy framework for addressing climate change, launched in 2008. It currently comprises eight core missions:
• National Solar Mission
• National Mission for Enhanced Energy Efficiency
• National Mission on Sustainable Habitat
• National Water Mission
• National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem
• National Mission for a Green India
• National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture
• National Mission on Strategic Knowledge for Climate Change

Need for Integration of the missions

• Quantifiable Action: It will help measure the role of individuals and businesses in climate mitigation and adaptation.
• Amplifying Awareness: Mass campaigns under NAPCC can broaden the outreach of Mission LiFE.
• Behavioural Transformation: It will focus on low-cost, high-impact lifestyle changes, e.g., optimal use of energy, waste reduction, and sustainable consumption.
• Bridging the Gap: Tackles the common problem of awareness not translating into action.

Challenges in Implementation

• Self-driven Model: Unlike subsidy-based schemes like rooftop solar, Mission LiFE requires voluntary and intrinsic motivation.
• Lack of Measurement Tools: Tracking impact and progress of lifestyle-based interventions remains a challenge.
• Limited Climate Literacy: A significant portion of the population still lacks basic understanding of climate change, leading to a disconnect between individual actions and their environmental impact.

Way Ahead

• Policy Synergy: Align with schemes like Ujjwala, FAME, National Electric Mobility Mission, etc., for greater synergy.
• Budgetary Allocation: Ensure adequate funding and investment to scale up behavioural campaigns.
• Awareness to Action: Launch targeted campaigns offering practical “to-do” lists for households and businesses.

Concluding remarks

• Merging Mission LiFE into the NAPCC can add a powerful, people-centric dimension to India’s climate response.
• While the transition to sustainable behaviour is a long-term process, institutional support, monitoring mechanisms, and mass outreach can catalyse significant climate-positive lifestyle changes.