Climate Change: Government And Opposition Should Rise Beyond Differences And Act Decisively

"Whatever I dig from thee, O Earth, may that have quick recovery again. O purifier, may we not injure thy vitals or thy heart." — Rig Veda

Political Stalemate

The recently concluded parliamentary election reeked of acerbity and bitterness. It has now become par for course in all democracies (now playing out in the United States), where political opponents treat each other like mortal enemies. Such hostility had prompted the Sarsanghchalak of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, Shri Mohan Bhagwat, to step in with sage advice on the need to engender a cooperative spirit.

The elections are well behind us, and the new government is trying to settle down. But it seems the opposition wants to keep the embers burning. It is on a warpath, mistaking its increased numbers as a license to disrupt parliament. It is as if the opposition has developed an amnesia of sorts about the need to be constructive and propose policy alternatives. If what we have seen in the last few weeks is any indication, it is going to be a hostile five years of parliament.

But it cannot go on like this. Both the government and the opposition need to prove to the citizens of the country that they can come together to solve problems, both short-term and long-term.

Sustainability Question

The daily woes of citizens continue unabated as politicians clash over one trivial thing or another. The recent devastation at Wayanad, entirely manmade, is a symbol of the dysfunction and corruption in politics. So is the flooding in Rajinder Nagar that killed young IAS (Indian Administrative Service) aspirants.

The recent water crisis in Delhi, caused by two months of intense heat waves, again served as a reminder that there cannot be a delay in conceiving and executing sustainable solutions. 

The annual air pollution ignominy that suffocates Delhi, among other things, points to the dismal failure of public policy and broken inter-state cooperation. It stands as a bleak testimony that political machinations take precedence over public health. With the inescapable vagaries of climate change, we cannot postpone climate action and put a large percentage of the population in peril. 

A recent United Nations (UN) report says that India's per capita food waste is 55 kg per year (Bhutan's is 19 kg). Agricultural waste at the retail level adds to 25 per cent of the final consumer price, says a report from Blume Ventures.

A recent report by Mckinsey says, "India currently generates 750 million to 800 million tons of waste across waste streams, with recycling rates of 13% for non-agricultural waste streams. If recycling rates improved to 80 percent, there would be a significant increase in recycled raw materials, which could help abate up to 34 MtCO2e by 2070... Material circularity would require investment in recycling infrastructure, as well as enforcement of waste management and extended-producer-responsibility regulations."

The opposition can attempt to take leadership on this issue. The voluble Congress social media chief, Jairam Ramesh, a former environment minister himself, can perhaps exhort the Congress to be seen on the side of fighting climate change. The Congress-run state governments, too, have not done anything remarkable on the environment front. This provides an opportunity for the Congress to position itself as a constructive opposition party.

Mission LiFE

One such opportunity for constructive cooperation is Mission LiFE (Lifestyle For the Environment). It was articulated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Glasgow and reiterated at Ekta Nagar in October 2022, in the presence of UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres and several foreign delegates.

PM Modi has been one of the leading global voices on environment and sustainability. He was bestowed with the highest environment award, "Champions of the Earth," in 2018, when he beautifully articulated that Indians see Paramatma in Prakriti. With the tradition of sustainability ingrained in the Hindu way of life, it should not be too difficult to get started on Mission LiFE.

Spreading The Word

In the past ten years, there have been a few instances when the Prime Minister has spearheaded mass movements. The first was Swachh Bharat; the second was during demonetisation; and the third was during the fight against Covid. The people of India have never shirked from rallying together for a common cause that would be beneficial to the next generation.

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has come up with "Prakriti," a booklet that catalogues the traditional ways of sustainability that are practiced in different states of India.

The Niti Aayog has created a mission document with 75 action points (in accordance with the 75th year of independence when this policy was mooted). It is pertinent to take these policies to the people through various forms of communication.

The Prime Minister himself can lead the SBCC (Social and Behaviour Change Communication) through "Mann ki Baat." The iterations call for a collective effort. James Clear, the author of the bestseller Atomic Habits, speaks about how it is not about a few strokes of genius but about consistency and repetition, which are the keys to success.

Execution

The broad categories of action of Mission LiFE are energy savings, single-use plastic, sustainable food systems, waste recycling, a healthy lifestyle, and e-waste. 

To be effective, Mission LiFE should use a mix of carrots and sticks. Other than SBCC, the use of technology to improve efficiencies (for example, a pond cleaning robot) and the imposing of penalties (for example, for littering) to enforce behaviours would be needed. Hopefully, there will be an appropriate allocation for Mission LiFE in the next budget.

The Prime Minister has stated the mantra of "Reform, Perform, and Transform" in enacting successful public sector projects. The transformation comes from "Jan Bhagidari." And people's participation can be effectively ensured if the opposition also comes together. Just think about the signal it will send to our fellow countrymen and the rest of the world in these divisive times!

The opposition can also contribute with creative ideas. It will be prudent to think of a group of parliamentarians from all parties that could be in various committees in charge of Mission LiFE.

Like with the UPI (Unified Payments Interface), it would be ideal for India to demonstrate leadership in sustainability at home before exporting best practices. Mission LiFE was initiated in front of a global audience. Before we preach to the world, we should practice it in India. And for that, the cooperation of the opposition is vital.

To conclude with Arnold Toynbee, "It is already becoming clear that a chapter which had a western beginning will have to have an Indian ending if it is not to end in self-destruction of the human race. At this supremely dangerous moment in human history, the only way of salvation is the ancient Hindu way."

Om Shanti!