Adopting an environment-friendly lifestyle is a key way to combat climate change according to India's updated climate action plan. Can the country balance this with its economic goals?
Every five years, the NDC must be submitted by country signatories to the UN climate change convention. They plan to reduce carbon emissions and adapt to the effects of climate change.
Reducing the volume of carbon emissions per unit of GDP is one of the measures included in the updated NDC.
"LiFE - lifestyle for environment" is at the top of the list and is based on traditions and values of conservativism and moderation.
The vision of LIFE is to live a lifestyle that is in tune with our planet and does not harm it. The first proposal was made by Prime Minister Modi at the COP26 summit.
There is a contradiction between this aim and the increase in consumption that comes from economic growth.
Increased consumption is what modernity means. The president of the Indian Society for Ecological Economics says that the concept of LiFE is not in line with the trend of consumer goods.
At a time when other major economic powers are facing a recession, India is now among the world's top economies.
Consumer demand is strong even though there are causes of concern. Experts think that private consumption will continue to drive growth.
The government's emphasis on LiFE is due to this.
Will there be action to change lifestyles or will it be business as usual?
Eugenie Dugoua, an assistant professor in environmental economics at the London School of Economics, says that solutions to the climate crisis will need to focus on ordinary people.
"But we should not be overly optimistic about how much emission reduction will come out of it, because research shows that this isn't sustainable in the long term," she said.
She says that behavioural change is important but not the main tool for policymakers.
Structural change in the energy, transportation and agricultural systems is what governments should be focusing on.
The energy sector is the largest source of carbon emissions.
In its October report, the International Energy Agency said that India is likely to see the world's biggest jump in energy demand this decade.
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Even with a continued rise in consumption, some experts think lifestyle changes can be made.
"We can make the habit of keeping our room temperature at 25C, which will lead to a cut in our energy consumption, but it's not about asking people to not buy air conditioners, it's about making the habit of keeping our room temperature at 25C, which will
The campaign aims to help people change their lifestyles gradually.
It's a way to get 1.5 billion Indians to sign up for a circular economy.
The Indian government sees LiFE as a message to the west.
The consumption pattern of the world is mindless and pays scant regard to the environment according to India's environment and climate change minister.
He said that Mission LiFE tries to remind the world that the mindset of "use and throw" must be replaced by "reduce, reuse and recycle".
India has its own share of environmental issues.
Only 12% of India's 3.5 million tonnes of plastic waste was recycled and 20% was burned, according to a report by a Delhi-based think-tank.
According to the report, the remaining 32% is in the environment or in dumpsites.
Three out of four river monitoring stations in India had alarming levels of heavy toxic metals.
Air pollution is a problem in northern India.
According to a World Bank report released earlier this year, India is one of the countries that have the worst environmental health.
Successive governments have been accused of ignoring environmental laws while pushing for infrastructure.
All this needs to be addressed by a government that wants people to change their lifestyles to fight against climate change, according to experts.
"Change has to be good for the people," Dr. Ghosh says.
Government actions and people's behavior need to be in consonance.
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