WSDS 2025 Thematic Track - Growth of Per Capita Energy Consumption in India: Role of LiFE Initiative

India, the world's third-largest energy consumer, presents a paradox: despite its massive energy demand, the country's per-capita energy and electricity consumption remains significantly low. This disparity is evident in India's per-capita energy consumption, which is approximately one-third of the global average, while its per-capita electricity consumption stands at merely 40% of the global average. As the fifth-largest economy and the most populous country globally, India is poised for sustained high economic growth, driven by its Vikshit Bharat aspiration. Consequently, the country's energy consumption is expected to rise substantially. However, India is committed to balancing economic growth with environmental sustainability. The Indian government's Mission Lifestyle for Environment (LiFE), launched at COP26, embodies this commitment. Rooted in ancient Indian philosophy, LiFE promotes individual-led collective action towards sustainability, emphasizing mindful consumption of resources based on need rather than greed. The mission comprises 75 actionable steps, empowering individuals to adopt sustainable lifestyles, reduce energy consumption, and decrease demand for environmentally harmful products. By integrating its economic growth aspirations with the LiFE mission, India aims to increase its per-capita energy and electricity consumption in a sustainable manner, ensuring a harmonious balance between economic development and environmental stewardship.

Recently TERI has undertaken a research study to estimate sustainable level of per capita energy and electricity consumption because of LiFE initiative. The purpose of this event is to present and deliberate on the preliminary findings of the study, and to gather stakeholder input to inform revisions and updates to the research.