Page 56 - Mann Ki Baat, October 2022

which will probably never be US dollars per year to support
António Guterres
UN Secretary-General
'Each One of Us Has a Role to Play in Our Fight Against
Climate Change'
UN Secretary-General, Mr. António Guterres was present in Kevadia, Gujarat on October 20,
2022 when Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a major national and global initiative
‘Mission LiFE’ (Lifestyle for Environment). He also visited India’s first 24x7 solar-powered
village Modhera in Gujarat. Mr. Guterres shared his experience in an interview with DD India.
Governments and companies are made that will dramatically
have their own role to play. But impact their lives much more than
each one of us should understand mine. At the UN, we are making
that we need to make peace reforms in this sense. But at the
with nature, reduce our carbon level of each country, there is a
footprints, and to have a lifestyle need to create some institutional
that is compatible with a mechanisms to allow for the
sustainable society and economy. youth to have a voice in the way
Each one of us has a role to play. decisions are taken and the future
And this initiative of Prime Minister is planned.
Narendra Modi, Mission LiFE, will We, presently, are consuming
mobilise citizens from all over the much more than the planet can
world to understand that they produce. We are using 1.6 planets
have a role to play. every year which is not sustainable.
The youth knows that when We need to think about how we
they become adults, they will behave, what we eat, how can we
suffer the consequences of what recycle things and avoid waste.
we are not able to do now. So, We need to understand that
they have a fundamental vested without the individual behaviour
interest in making sure that we of each person being compatible
respect the environment, fight with a sustainable society, there is
climate change, and preserve not much that the Governments
biodiversity in the world. And in can do to reduce pollution. Let
all our societies, participation of us not forget that today pollution
the youth is very important and is killing seven million people per
we have mechanisms to consult year. So, we need to understand
the youth for various things. But that pollution is a killer, it is not
the youth is not yet participating just ugly. With biodiversity loss, we
in the decision-making processes are losing a fantastic capital for
that will lead to the options that the future; some of the medicines
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available for the basic needs of developing countries, a much
the population. We are seeing the stronger support adaptation to
devastation in the world today build resilience.
due to climate change. So, each These are the things that
one of us needs to make peace I hope to see in the COP. The
with nature for the world to be developed countries should
able to respect the planet and to be able to respond to what
avoid the collapse. it is the legitimate request of
The gigantic project of India developing countries. But that
(commitment to achieve 500 does not solve the problem. The
GW renewable energy generation essential problem is that we are
by 2030) is a very important increasing our emissions and we
contribution to climate action. need to reverse this trend. And
There was a very symbolic to do that, we need a pact within
nature to my visit to the village the G20. Four large developing
close to the temple of Sun (Surya countries presiding G20 one
Mandir in Modhera). It is not after the other — Indonesia, India,
only the investment made by Brazil, and South Africa — it is the
the Government; it is the way moment for a pact between the
the community came together developed and the emerging
which is commendable. You have economies that today because
villages where every house has of their industrial development
some solar panels in which there are also large emitters. A pact
is a link between the use of clean that requires a massive transfer
energy and the well-being of the of financial resources and
families and of the community, technology from the developed
the way the school works much world to the emerging economies,
better, the way people have more and an additional effort from both
money to spend on other things or sides to reduce emissions. This is
to create their savings. something I discussed with Prime
This is a remarkable project of Minister Narendra Modi as well.
inclusivity and solidarity and very
much in line with what the UN has
presented in its Agenda 2030, the Scan the QR code to listen to
Sustainable Development Goals what more the UNSG said about
(SDGs), that aims to eradicate climate change.
poverty, improve living conditions
of everybody, everywhere. And so,
this is an exceptionally relevant
contribution to climate action to
defeat climate change. (And)
there is a sense of community,
solidarity, and inclusivity that is a
lesson for the world.
Right now, there are two
things that are needed. First,
the developed countries must
understand that the developing
countries have the right to demand
that what was promised in Paris
(Paris Climate Accord at COP 21)
is delivered. That means 100 billion
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