Who are “Pro-Planet People”? Know how Indians have always been “Pro-Planet”!

The concept of Pro-planet people is central to the Indian government’s "Lifestyle for the Environment (LiFE)" mission. This mission was introduced at the COP26, the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference ((UNFCCC COP26).

The idea behind being “pro-planet” is to have an intrinsic shift from “mindless and wasteful consumption” to “mindful and deliberated utilisation” of resources. It is a mission that emphasises the power of individuals and their collective action to combat environmental degradation and produce a compounded change.

Indians have always been “Pro-planet”

Indians do not realise that many traditional and cultural practices that have been prevalent in India from centuries are sustainable and eco-friendly. All Indians have to do is to look back at their roots. Let’s look at some of them -

1. India used to have traditional water conservation systems called Stepwells (Baolis) and Johads (Earthern check dams). They collected rain water here, replenished ground water and also served as community hubs. Rain water harvesting used to be much more in action in old days than it is now.
2. Chipko movement in Himalayan region helped combat deforestation. A great example of environmental activism. Villagers used to hug trees and be there for hours to prevent them from being cutting down.
3. Himalayan region uses stone and timber as construction material. Houses made with these are naturally insulated, keeping the house warm in winters and cool in summers.
4. Zero-waste approach is common in Indian kitchens. Women repurpose everything they can. Example, left over lentils or vegetables are mixed with flour to make Parathas.
5. Tradition of serving food on banana leaves in South India is a widespread practice till date. These leaves are biodegradable, zero-waste alternative to plastic or paper plates. Sometimes food is also cooked in these leaves which are said to provide flavour and nutrients to the food.
6. In North India, disposable plates and utensils called ‘Pattal’ or ‘Dona’ are made by stitching dry leaves together. Primarily Sal leaves or Banyan leaves are used in making of these. These are used in Prasadam in temples or during community lunches and dinners.
7. Bishnoi community in India is famous for it’s unwavering commitment to protecting trees and wildlife. It is a philosophy deep rooted in their religious beliefs.
8. Craft in Odisha and West Bengal used Jute - The Golden Fibre for bags and rugs while bamboo weaving is a major sustainable craft in North eastern states. Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andamans and Lakshadweep make beautiful products using coconut shells, up cycling agricultural waste.
9. Vibrant city of Gujrat is known for it’s Khadi products. Khadi is a hand woven fabric majorly made of cotton and is sustainable as well as environment friendly.
10. In Gujrat and Rajasthan natural dyes are also famous. These natural dyes for textiles like Bandhani and Ajrakh prints are a long standing eco-friendly approach. Not just on textiles, but many artists based our of Rajasthan and Gujrat used these natural paints for their paintings.

Above is only a small list. Indian culture and traditions are deep rooted in environmental friendly and sustainable practices. Indians have lost majority of these sustainable household practices in the name of modernisation and due to globalisation. However, it is not too late still to adopt them back in order to conserve our environment.

Apart from the traditional practices, here are a few other things which can be done in order to be environment friendly and sustainable -

1. Minimize or avoid consumption of single-use plastics.
2. Use cloth bags for shopping
3. Carry reusable water bottles. Copper water bottles have health benefits as well.
4. Repurpose old clothes
5. Practice waste segregation at home and ensure proper disposal of E-waste
6. Conserve water and electricity
7. Use energy efficient appliances and LED bulbs
8. Install solar water heaters and solar panels for electricity
9. Implement rain water harvesting in homes and communities
10. Walk, cycle of use public transportation for shorter distances or wherever possible
11. Consider carpooling or using electric vehicles
12. Eat more plant based food which generally have a lower environmental impact
13. Choose seasonal and locally grown agricultural produce to reduce carbon footprint associated with transportation
14. Buy fewer new things, repair what you can, use second hand items when possible
15. Initiate community clean-up drives
16. Initiate tree=planting activities and promote urban greenery