Supreme Court Judges Highlight Urgent Need to Address Climate Change

In a significant gathering, four Supreme Court judges, including three future Chief Justices of India, underscored the critical dangers of climate change and proposed essential measures to combat its effects. Justices Surya Kant, PS Narasimha, Sanjay Karol, and KV Viswanathan shared their insights at the launch of the book "Climate Change: The Policy, Law and Practice," authored by advocate Jatinder Cheema on Saturday.

Justice Viswanathan emphasized the urgent nature of the climate crisis, noting, "It has been recorded that 2011 to 2024 was the warmest. This is a problem here and now and is a serious existential threat. Scientific reports also state that now it is the warmest since the last100,000 years." He stressed that focusing solely on carbon emissions may not be the best model for developing countries like India. "The Supreme Court in the Ranjeet Singh judgment held that citizens have a right to save themselves from the adverse effects of climate change," he added, advocating for the establishment of a permanent climate commission akin to NITI Aayog.

Justice Kant highlighted the often-overlooked environmental violations by developed countries, pointing out, "Some developed countries often export their plastic waste to developing countries. Developing countries including India have taken steps to prevent ecological damage and measures to reduce carbon emissions." He expressed optimism that the Indian legislature would introduce robust measures to combat climate change.

Justice Karol addressed the detrimental impacts of agricultural practices on climate change, stating, "Overuse of fertilizers and excessive groundwater irrigation have exacerbated climate change and affected agriculture. Successive governments have spent a lot to clean the Ganges, and we know what is the condition now."Justice Narasimha stressed the importance of internal change among people to complement legal frameworks. "We are seeing extreme temperatures, contamination of drinking water, rising sea levels, among other issues. The consequences are not just for human life, but plant and animal life as well," he noted. He warned that without personal commitment to change, legal measures alone would result in endless petitions at the National Green Tribunal.

Author Jatinder Cheema explained that his book aims to provide a comprehensive compilation of legal frameworks related to climate change, adaptation, resilience, and mitigation. "It is intended to be a valuable resource for anyone interested in driving positive change on this issue, including policymakers, activists, legal scholars, and practitioners," he said. The foreword to the book was penned by Justice Dalveer Bhandari, Judge of the International Court of Justice at The Hague, adding further credibility to the comprehensive legal perspectives presented in the book.

This gathering and the discussions it fostered highlight the growing recognition among India's judicial leadership of the urgent need for a multifaceted approach to addressing climate change, emphasizing both legislative action and societal transformation.

Author: Anushka taraniya
News writer