Mumbai: Union Minister for Environment Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav emphasized the need for progress on both economic and ecological fronts, stating, “A developed economy should be a developed ecology too.”
He further urged citizens to embrace environmental consciousness, asserting, “We should be citizens with the environmental sense.”
The Minister was speaking at an event
‘Ideas4LiFE – Lifestyle for Environment’ , aiming to inspire innovative environmental solutions, at IIT Bombay.
The Minister stressed that a human-centric approach to development is insufficient, advocating instead for an ecologically conscious model.
He pointed out the adverse effects of development, such as rising temperatures and biodiversity loss, underscoring the essential role of nature in providing food, energy, medicine, and other resources.
Bhupender Yadav also highlighted the importance of preserving one-third of the Earth for biodiversity, noting that around 50,000 species are used for human consumption.
He also outlined three essential actions for sustainable development, “changing consumption demands, improving supply systems, and implementing effective policies”.
The Minister also addressed the global food waste scenario, noting that 15 billion tonnes are sent to landfills each year.
He urged that our education, innovation, and technological advancements should focus on enhancing and preserving nature.
During the event, Union Minister Bhupender Yadav announced the extension of the deadline for idea submission in Ideas4LiFE from 15th September to 15th October 2024.
The Ideas4LiFE ideathon covers seven themes of Mission LiFE – Save Water, Save Energy, Reduce Waste, Reduce E-Waste, Say No to Single-Use Plastics, Adopt Sustainable Food Systems, and Adopt Healthy Lifestyles.
To facilitate idea submissions, a dedicated portal, ‘Ideas4Life.nic.in,’ was launched on July 29, 2024, at IIT Delhi.
This portal invites participants to submit their innovations online, with winning ideas across the seven themes receiving recognition and prizes for both individuals and institutions.
