SC recently appointed Advocates Jay Cheema and Sudhir Mishra as Amici Curiae to examine Laws Regulating Carbon Emissions
Last Updated on December 11, 2024 by NewsDesk SLC
Recognizing the importance of the issue of carbon emissions and their impact on the environment, the Supreme Court recently appointed Advocates Jay Cheema and Sudhir Mishra as Amici Curiae to examine the existing legal framework governing emissions.
Justice Pamidighantam Sri Narasimha and Justice Manoj Misra further directed Senior Advocate Swarupam Chaturvedi for the Union of India to submit a compilation of all relevant rules and regulations relating to carbon emissions.
The case stems from an appeal by 11-year-old Ridhima Pandey, which highlights the Indian government’s failure to adequately address climate change with effective and science-based measures. The court adjourned the case to December 17, 2024.
Petition was filed in 2017 before the NGT. The petitioner filed the present appeal in SC after NGT dismissed in 2019.
A plea for India to incorporate climate commitments into domestic policy, particularly when approving carbon-intensive projects, has drawn criticism. The lawsuit alleges that India’s actions are often in violation of international commitments, such as reducing the greenhouse gas intensity of GDP by 33-35 percent by 2030.
The petitioner claims that these projects lack an adequate climate impact assessment under the Environmental Impact Assessment Framework and do not take into account the wider implications for carbon emissions and climate change. The plea also calls for the creation of a “carbon budget” by 2050 to curb emissions, rigorous climate impact assessments as part of environmental and deforestation cuts, and the creation of a time-bound national climate recovery plan to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions.
The request also calls for a detailed assessment of greenhouse gas emissions from approved projects, the development of a “carbon budget” to reduce emissions in line with global targets, and the creation of a time-bound climate recovery plan to mitigate emissions and strengthen carbon sinks. . The request highlights the urgent need for government accountability in addressing the adverse impacts of climate change on vulnerable populations, particularly children.
Case Law– Ridhima Pandey v. Union of India & Anr.
