By Biswendu Bhattacharjee
Baku, Nov 13 (UNI) The Chief Adviser of Bangladesh Muhammad Yunus on Wednesday urged the global community to create a new world of three zeroes – zero carbon, zero waste and zero wealth - for fixing climate destruction.
”We have chosen a lifestyle which works against the environment. We justify this with an economic framework which is considered as natural as the planetary system. That economic framework thrives on limitless consumption. The more you consume the more you grow. The more you grow, the more money you make. Maximization of profit is treated as the force of gravity which lets everything in the system play its role according to our desire,” the Nobel laureate underlined while addressing World Leaders Climate Action Summit in COP29 here in Azerbaijan
A counter-culture needs to be proposed which is based on a different life-style - based on zero waste. It will limit consumption to essential needs, leaving no residual waste leading to a zero carbon life. Prefer to get renewable sources of energy and avoid fossil fuel, Prof Yunus pointed out.
“This will be an economy based primarily on zero personal profit, i.e. on social business, which is defined as a non-dividend business addressed to solve social and environmental problems. A vast part of social businesses will focus on protecting the environment and mankind. Human lives will not only be protected but qualitatively enhanced through affordable healthcare and education,” he commented.
He argued that the safety of environment needs a new life-style, and should not be imposed, it will be a choice. Young people love that lifestyle as a choice. Each young person will grow up as a three zero person — zero net carbon emissions, zero wealth concentration, through building social businesses only, and zero unemployment by turning themselves into entrepreneurs.
“A person will grow up as a three zero person, and remain a three zero person all his/her life. That will create a new civilization. All we need to do is to accept a new life-style consistent with the safety of the planet and all who live on it,” Prof Yunus added. UNI BB SSP