Assessing future environment and climate dynamics

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asserted that developing countries are “unjustly blamed” for carbon emissions, despite India’s per-capita emissions being “less than half of the global average” and those of developed countries being six times higher. Inaugurating the International Conference on ‘The Future of Environment and Climate Dynamics’ in New Delhi, India last week, Mr Modi also launched the National Green Tribunal (NGT) Mobile Application during the inaugural session. He also highlighted the nation's profound historical connection to nature, emphasizing how ancient cultural wisdom is actively shaping modern climate solutions and inspiring global collective action. PM Modi stressed that India is the only G20 country that has fulfilled all the commitments made at the Paris COP-21 well ahead of time, while also setting global benchmarks in non-fossil fuels and solar capacity, and said that India’s performance on every parameter is a topic of discussion in the world today.

According to an Indian Press Information bureau (PIB) release, Indian Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Mr Bhupender Yadav pointed out that non-fossil sources now account for 54.18% of the country's installed electricity capacity, surpassing the 2030 target of 50% nine years ahead of schedule. He added India ranks third globally in renewable energy installed capacity and is the world’s second-largest solar growth market, demonstrating that economic growth and climate action can advance together. He also highlighted India’s achievements in wildlife and ecosystem conservation, from the successful Cheetah reintroduction programme and conservation breeding programme of the Great Indian Bustard to the conservation and restoration of woodlands, grasslands and wetlands. He said India’s forest and tree cover has reached 8.27 lakh square kilometres and quoted the Global Forest Resources Assessment 2025 by the UN FAO, according to which India has retained its third position globally in terms of annual net forest-area gain. Looking ahead to UNFCCC COP31 in Antalya, he said India will continue to advocate climate action centred on equity, implementation and the needs of vulnerable countries.

Delivering his inaugural remarks, as per the PIB release, Chief Justice of India Justice Mr Surya Kant highlighted India’s longstanding environmental jurisprudence, noting that the Supreme Court has, over the decades, recognised the right to a pollution-free environment as a fundamental right and developed principles including the precautionary principle, polluter pays principle, absolute liability and public trust doctrine. The Chief Justice said Indian climate jurisprudence has brought climate-related rights into sharper constitutional focus, recognising that adverse effects of climate change can implicate fundamental rights relating to equality, livelihood and health. He called for collective judicial wisdom, scientific knowledge and international cooperation to strengthen global environmental stewardship.

The conference organised by the NGT helped facilitate dialogue on critical environmental and climate challenges and explored ways to strengthen environmental governance and institutional cooperation. It brought together jurists, academicians, environmental experts and other stakeholders from 17 countries, along with international organisations. It provided a platform for the exchange of judicial approaches, scientific knowledge, environmental governance practices and institutional experiences across jurisdictions. It aimed to strengthen global environmental governance and contribute towards building a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable future for generations to come.

The key objectives of the conference included (1) knowledge exchange to provide a platform for global experts, policymakers, and environmental advocates to share insights, research findings, and best practices in tackling environmental issues, (2) innovation and technology to showcase cutting-edge technological advancements and innovative solutions that can mitigate the impact of climate change, restore ecosystems, and promote sustainable development, (3) policy development to encourage discussions on policies, strategies, and international frameworks that can help governments and organizations implement effective climate action plans and environmental protections, (4) collaborative action to build partnerships between governments, corporations, civil society, and local communities to collaborate on large-scale environmental projects and initiatives that drive sustainable change, and (5) public engagement to raise awareness among the general public about the environmental challenges facing our planet and empower individuals to take action in their own communities.

The NGT is a specialized statutory body in India that was established to handle environmental matters and set up to provide effective and expeditious disposal of causes related to environmental protection, conservation of forests, and other natural resources.