The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Youth urged to adopt ‘greener' lifestyles

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Friday, Jun 24, 2011
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Youth urged to adopt ‘greener' lifestyles

Staff Reporter

Current development model will not lead to sustainable lifestyles: UNEP report

Prevention of environmental degradation did not seem to occupy high priority among the youth
Majority of youths prefer electrical appliances and gadgets, increasing the demand for energy

HYDERABAD: The current economic developmental models may not lead to environmentally sustainable lifestyles, the report on United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) global survey for ‘Sustainable lifestyles – visions for change', said.

The report was released by C.S. Rama Lakshmi, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, at a press conference here on Friday.

Ms. Rama Lakshmi said that the current emphasis on economic development was resulting in an ‘Energy Intensive' model whereas for a sustainable development, the emphasis should be on ‘Green Development' model.

“Development is not the same as damage to the environment,” she said.

She also said that though India's per capita energy consumption was less than that of the developed nations, the total demand for energy was more due to the large population.

Different picture

She called upon youth to adapt to the ‘greener ways' of lifestyles to mitigate the impending environmental degradation. But the first ever UNEP global survey of more than 8,000 young urban adults in 20 countries brought out a completely different picture. The survey points out that as of now prevention of environmental degradation did not seem to occupy very high priority among the youth.

It found that a vast majority of the young adults preferred electrical appliances and gadgets over sports and social life and this would increase the demand for energy. To address the issue of sustainable lifestyles, the report recommended promoting greater participation of the youth and raising the social capital index.

Culture and traditions

It also recommended that the sustainable development at the community level should be taken up by utilising elements of local culture and traditions.

To reduce the ever growing demand on energy resources, cheap and efficient public transport system should be maintained, the report said.

The survey in India, in which a total of 228 young urban adults participated, was conducted by the Venkatesh Trust for Education and Excellence, New Delhi.

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