LiFE Lessons from India
Key Findings
Introduction
- Launch: Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Lifestyle for Environment (LiFE) initiative at COP26 in Glasgow in November 2021.
- Objective: Encourage sustainable lifestyles to address environmental degradation and climate change.
Integration of LiFE in Energy Transition Strategy
- Policy Alignment: India has integrated several policies in its energy transition strategy that align with LiFE.
- Energy Efficiency: India's economy is already 10% more energy efficient than both the global and G20 averages.
- Electricity Access: India took less time to achieve full electricity access compared to other major economies.
- Renewable Energy: India is the third largest national market for renewables, with significant growth in distributed solar PV.
- Electric Vehicles: Electric passenger vehicles have a market share of almost 5%, with sales tripling from 2021.
- Behavioral Change: India’s example highlights the importance of behavioral change and consumption choices in driving energy transitions.
Global Impact of LiFE Measures
- Emissions Reduction: The IEA estimates that adopting LiFE measures globally would reduce annual CO2 emissions by more than 2 billion tonnes by 2030.
- Government Role: About 60% of the emissions savings could be directly influenced or mandated by governments.
- Consumer Benefits: LiFE measures would save consumers around $440 billion in 2030, equivalent to 5% of all spending on fuels.
India’s Energy Transition
- Historical Context: India has prioritized providing access to electricity, fuel for transport, and clean cooking fuels, contributing to significant economic growth.
- Per Capita Indicators: India’s per capita GDP and CO2 emissions are only 40% of the world average.
- Challenges: Increasing prosperity has led to higher greenhouse gas emissions, air pollution, and fossil fuel imports.
- Ambitious Pathway: India aims to reach net zero emissions by 2070.
- Key Initiatives:
- Target of non-fossil fuel sources contributing to 50% of India’s power generation capacity by 2030.
- National Green Hydrogen Mission aiming for annual renewable hydrogen production of 5 million tonnes by 2030.
- Biofuel mandates targeting 30% blending of ethanol in petrol by 2030.
- Domestic manufacturing promotion through schemes like PLI for solar PV, advanced batteries, and electric vehicles.
- Demand-side measures including a national carbon market, energy efficiency trading schemes, and incentives for electric vehicle purchases.
Conclusion
- G20 Presidency: India’s first G20 presidency could strengthen the LiFE initiative by anchoring it in the G20’s current framing of energy transitions and sharing best practices.
- Implications: LiFE measures can help lower energy consumption and emissions inequalities between countries, with greater reductions in advanced economies relative to emerging markets.
This summary captures the main points and key data from the provided text, focusing on the integration of LiFE in India’s energy transition strategy and its global impact.
