India, Jan. 15 -- Across the many landscapes we traverse in life, there's a singular yearning for "home" - more specifically, our hometown. Many of us dream of retiring where we grew up. I did too. After years abroad, I returned to Delhi to be near my ageing parents. But Delhi's punishing climate and toxic air took a toll. Summers soared past 50degC, winters dipped into 700+ AQI territory. My once-active outdoor life vanished and I developed COPD.

In the years that followed, I have been determined to live differently; to embody the change I wish to see. I've ensured there is minimal wastage at home - I shunned the shower and stuck to bucket baths and reused any plastic that entered my home. But the problem of unnecessary consumption and ...