Former IIT Bombay Professor Chetan Solanki Urges Lifestyle Changes to Combat Climate Change
Former IIT Bombay Professor Chetan Solanki Urges Lifestyle Changes to Combat Climate Change
UDAIPUR, India, Aug. 5 — Climate change cannot be solved through technology alone, and reducing unnecessary consumption is essential to protecting the planet, former IIT Bombay professor and renewable energy advocate Chetan Solanki said Wednesday during an energy conservation program at Vidya Bhawan Polytechnic.
Known as the "Solar Man" and "Solar Gandhi" of India, Solanki said Earth's natural resources are finite, making it impossible to sustain unlimited consumption.
"Science, technology and the economy may continue to grow, but the size of the Earth cannot," he said. "If we fail to recognize this reality, life will become increasingly difficult over the next few decades."
The lecture on energy conservation and climate change was organized jointly by the Polytechnic's Department of Electrical Engineering and the Environment Protection Activity Eco Club.
Solanki, who arrived in Udaipur aboard his self-sustaining solar-powered bus, said the vehicle serves as his home, office, meeting room and training center. Solar panels mounted on the roof generate electricity to power essential appliances, demonstrating that a comfortable lifestyle is possible using clean energy and limited resources.
Principal Anil Mehta said Solanki is currently undertaking a 100-day Bharat Climate Satyagraha Yatra from May 13 to Aug. 20, 2026, as part of his 11-year Energy Swaraj Yatra, which began in November 2020. Solanki has pledged not to return home during the campaign as he travels across India promoting sustainable living and energy conservation.
According to Mehta, Solanki has traveled more than 80,000 kilometers, delivered over 1,800 lectures, interacted directly with more than 500,000 people and helped make over 2 million citizens energy literate. During his tenure at IIT Bombay, he also played a key role in providing clean lighting solutions to approximately 7.5 million households. In 2025, he launched the Finite Earth Movement, which aims to engage 1 billion people in climate action by 2027.
Addressing students and faculty, Solanki compared global warming to a human fever.
"If a person's body temperature rises by 1.5 degrees Celsius, it is considered a serious fever. Likewise, Earth's average temperature has already increased by about 1.5 degrees Celsius since the Industrial Revolution," he said.
He said the increase has contributed to heat waves, erratic rainfall, droughts, floods, wildfires and rising sea levels, adding that "the Earth has developed a fever, yet humanity continues the same lifestyle that caused it."
Solanki also highlighted what he described as "invisible pollution" generated by households. While an average family produces about 150 kilograms of visible solid waste each year, he said it indirectly generates nearly 10,000 kilograms of invisible emissions in the form of carbon dioxide, heat and other greenhouse gases through electricity use, cooking fuel, digital services, transportation and consumer products.
He noted that carbon dioxide can remain in the atmosphere for nearly 300 years, meaning today's consumption patterns will affect generations to come.
Calling the textile industry one of the world's largest polluters, Solanki encouraged people to avoid purchasing new clothes for one year. He said manufacturing a single set of new clothing can consume about 10,000 liters of water, emit approximately 20 kilograms of carbon dioxide and produce around 2 kilograms of chemical pollution.
He stressed that renewable energy, electric vehicles and advanced technologies alone cannot resolve the climate crisis if consumption continues to rise unchecked.
During the event, Mehta released Solanki's book, "Climate Change 2100: Survive or Thrive," published by Penguin.
Mehta said climate change is not only a global concern but also a local challenge for Udaipur, affecting water security, biodiversity and public health. He urged citizens to adopt energy conservation, water conservation and sustainable consumption in their daily lives.
The program was attended by Vidya Bhawan Society Vice President Bhagwat Babel, Udaipur Solar Observatory Deputy Director Bhuvan Joshi, Ramit Bhattacharya, Brijesh Singh, former Additional Chief Town Planner Satish Shrimali, environmental activists, faculty members and students.
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