India waste processing capacity in cities has increased from 14 percent in 2014 to 75 percent currently Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj, Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations, said during the UNGA High-Level Meeting on Zero Waste as a Transformative Solution in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
On 14 December 2022, the UN General Assembly (UNGA) adopted a resolution proclaiming 30 March as International Day of Zero Waste, to be observed annually starting in 2023.
Speaking at the event, Kamboj highlighted several ways through which India is adopting the strategies of achieving the set sustainable development goals.
She specifically emphasized two modes through which India is working on waste management. One being the Swachh Bharat/clean India mission which was launched in 2014, and secondly, Mission LiFE - at COP 26, where India introduced the concept of LiFE or a “Lifestyle for the Environment”.
Yesterday, Ambassador addressed the UN General Assembly on #MissionLiFE and #SwachhBharat on the occasion of the International Day of Zero Waste.
— India at UN, NY (@IndiaUNNewYork) March 31, 2023
Indeed, it is “time to clean up our world”!
Statement 📖: https://t.co/8sVt6WPikb pic.twitter.com/lHbuYVhOQC
Elaborating on the Swachh Bharat mission, Kamboj said, "The collective participation and efforts of the citizens of my country has been a key ingredient to the success of the Clean India Mission. Today, we call this Mission a ‘people’s movement’, a true Jan Andolan."
"The need of the hour is human-centric collective efforts and robust actions that further sustainable development," she remarked, as she was talking about the LIFE mission, elaborating about women from 2,000 cities are rallying for garbage free cities, organizing Zero Waste events and pledging their commitment for the mission.
While concluding her statement, she said that India is fully committed, and is proactively working towards the implementation of Agenda 2030.
