Itanagar: Chief Minister Pema Khandu urged the people of Arunachal Pradesh to continue their efforts for the environment even after the successful conclusion of the one-month long Mission LiFE campaign in the state. Speaking at the World Environment Day celebration held at DK Auditorium in the State Legislative Assembly, Khandu emphasized the need for a collective effort to ensure an environmentally conscious lifestyle becomes a mass movement.
The campaign, which aimed to raise awareness about environmental issues, marked its completion on the 50th World Environment Day. Khandu highlighted the significance of the campaign and its connection to the messages delivered by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his address at CoP26 in Glasgow, United Kingdom. The Prime Minister emphasized the importance of Panchamrit and Mission LiFE in addressing the challenges posed by climate change.
Panchamrit, which consists of five nectar elements, includes objectives such as achieving a non-fossil energy capacity of 500 GW by 2030, meeting 50 percent of India’s energy requirements from renewable sources by 2030, reducing total carbon emissions by one billion tonnes, decreasing the carbon intensity of the economy by less than 45 percent, and achieving the target of Net Zero by 2030.
Khandu commended Arunachal Pradesh for recognizing the importance of an environmentally conscious lifestyle in mitigating the impacts of climate change. He mentioned the landmark Pakke Tiger Reserve 2047 Ministerial Declaration on Climate Change Resilient and Responsive Arunachal Pradesh, which was adopted by the state. The Chief Minister expressed pride in initiating and piloting this movement for the benefit of future generations and in contributing to India’s national goals.
The Mission LiFE campaign, officially launched by the Prime Minister on October 20, 2022, at the Statue of Liberty in Ekta Nagar, Gujarat, focuses on seven broad themes: Energy Saved, Water Saved, Single Use Plastic Reduced, Sustainable Food Systems Adopted, Waste Reduced (Swachhata Action), Healthy Lifestyles Adopted, and E-Waste Reduced. Khandu reiterated the commitment of Arunachal Pradesh to implementing action plans and allocating resources to tackle climate change impacts and achieve climate-resilient landscapes.
The Chief Minister acknowledged the efforts of various stakeholders, including government departments, district administrations, institutes, community-based organizations, NGOs, and youth associations, for their proactive participation in the awareness, outreach, and advocacy activities conducted during the Mission LiFE campaign. He also highlighted the adoption of Climate Tagged Budgeting by Arunachal Pradesh, along with Odisha, Kerala, and Gujarat, to support credible climate change actions.
Arunachal Pradesh, known for its rich biodiversity and traditional lifestyle of indigenous tribal communities, is well-positioned to lead the campaign for environmental conservation. Khandu emphasized that it is both a responsibility and a privilege for the state to preserve its natural resources for the benefit of the entire country and future generations.
As the Mission LiFE campaign concludes, the people of Arunachal Pradesh are encouraged to maintain their commitment to an environmentally conscious lifestyle and continue their efforts for a sustainable future.
