Staff Reporter :
Chief Adviser Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus has called for a transformative move towards a “zero waste and zero carbon” lifestyle to combat climate change and promote sustainability.
Speaking at the World Leaders Climate Action Summit at COP29 in Baku, he outlined his vision of a “Three Zero World” to safeguard the planet from environmental breakdown.
“To survive, we need a counter-culture – a lifestyle focused on zero waste and limited to essential needs, leaving no residual waste,” Yunus asserted.
This culture, based on zero waste and zero carbon, aims to phase out fossil fuels in favour of renewable energy sources.
He further advocated for an economic shift towards “zero personal profit” through social business models, which are structured to address social and environmental challenges rather than to maximise personal gain.
Describing social business as a non-dividend enterprise dedicated to solving critical global issues, Yunus highlighted that many such businesses would prioritise environmental preservation.
This approach, he argued, would not only protect human lives but enhance them by ensuring access to healthcare, education, and entrepreneurial opportunities for young people.
His aim is to replace job-seeking mindsets with education driven by entrepreneurship, encouraging self-reliance among the youth.
Yunus, a Nobel Peace laureate, explained that this envisioned lifestyle would be adopted by choice rather than enforced.
He expressed optimism that young people would embrace the “Three Zero” identity, characterised by zero carbon emissions, zero wealth concentration through social business, and zero unemployment through entrepreneurship.