Calling lifestyle change the “biggest challenge” in the fight against climate change, Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa on Thursday urged citizens to make sustainability a part of their daily lives.

Addressing the Innovation for Resilience Summit during Delhi Climate Innovation Week (DCIW) 2026, Sirsa said that individual responsibility will play a decisive role in improving air quality, water resources and overall environmental health.

Mounting waste burden in the Capital

“In Delhi, we are generating 11,000 metric tons of municipal waste per day,” he said. “Apart from this, we are clearing almost 30,000 to 35,000 tonnes of legacy waste from dump sites that has accumulated over years and decades.”

He noted that while the government is processing legacy waste to convert it into fuel, the exercise is adding pressure on roads and the environment due to transportation and handling requirements.

“These are real challenges. As citizens of India, and especially Delhi, each one of us should contribute towards the environment,” he said.

Sirsa also referred to India’s broader climate commitments under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, stating that several national targets in the field of environment and climate change were achieved ahead of schedule.

Individual responsibility key to climate action

However, he stressed that policy action alone will not be enough.

“Today, the biggest challenge before us is lifestyle. The way modern lifestyles are changing has a major impact on air quality, water quality and climate change,” he said. “Climate change is not a disease from outside, nor will anyone from outside cure it.”

He urged citizens to adopt small but consistent changes such as planting more trees, reducing water usage and refusing plastic bags. “You will feel the power of this. You will feel how responsible you are,” he said.

The Minister added that meaningful change will come only when individuals accept their role in the climate crisis. “When 130 crore people of India contribute — even a little — there will be a big change,” he said.

The Innovation for Resilience Summit is a flagship platform under Delhi Climate Innovation Week 2026. It aims to bring together policymakers, investors, technology leaders and implementation agencies to focus on practical solutions for climate resilience.

The summit is supported by partners including the World Bank Group, Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, and GIZ, among others. The broader climate week is presented by Climate Collective Foundation in partnership with institutions such as Mahindra Group, The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), and WRI India.