President Droupadi Murmu, on Wednesday, made an appeal to the people to accord top priority to ensuring that future generations breathe in a pollution free environment, progress well and live healthy lives.

”Breathing in clean air is a basic human right. By protecting the environment, we can protect many human rights,” she said addressing a gathering after presenting the National Energy Conservation Awards, National Energy Efficiency Innovation Awards and National Painting Competition prizes on the occasion of National Energy Conservation Day.

The President launched ‘EV-Yatra Portal’ on the occasion.  ‘EV-Yatra Portal’ has been developed by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency to facilitate in-vehicle navigation to the nearest public EV charger.

Murmu said that while facing the challenges of climate change and global warming, energy conservation was a global as well as national priority. Although India’s per capita carbon emissions and greenhouse gases emissions were less than one-third of the world average, India as a responsible country was contributing significantly in environment protection.

The President said that India, in COP-26, had given the message of ‘Lifestyle For Environment’ i.e. LiFE, urging the world community to adopt an eco-friendly lifestyle. ”In Indian culture and tradition, our lifestyle has always been consistent with the message of LiFE. Respecting nature, not wasting natural resources and taking measures to enhance natural wealth are an integral part of such a lifestyle,” she added. She said India was making efforts to move the entire world community towards adoption of such a lifestyle.

Referring to India’s Presidency of G-20, Murmu said G-20 countries contribute 85 per cent to the world’s total GDP and 75 per cent to international trade. In addition, 60 per cent of the world’s population also resided in the G-20 countries. She said that India, during its Presidency, has adopted the theme of ‘One Earth, One Family, One Future’, according to the ideal of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ and it was also disseminating it on the world stage.

The President appreciated all the award winners, especially children. She also commended the winners of the National Energy Efficiency Innovation Awards for their innovative thinking and methodology. She said that their innovations should be widely used, so that more and more people could get inspired and develop new methods for environmental protection.