Prof Upendra Baxi (left) and Chief Justice Dipak Misra (centre)at a function at the Indian Society of International Law in New Delhi on Tuesday. Picture Bhawna Gaur

Climate change lecture brings out lacunae in legal framework

During a kenynote address, law doyen Professor Upendra Baxi said at the Indian Society of International Law in Delhi on Tuesday (July 17) that “We need to rethink basic concepts of law on property, contracts and on associations to fight climate change.”

The focus of the lecture was ‘Towards new horizons of  international law: Climate change and human rights’. The lecture was organized by the Indian branch of the International Law Association.

Before Professor Baxi’s lecture, the programme was inaugurated by the president of the association, Chief Justice Dipak Misra. In his address the CJI said: “”Environment, human rights, business and economy are all connected. There’s an interdependence between human rights and environment. A healthy environment is sine qua non for human rights. An individual has the right to fortify his/her human rights.”

He also said that every person has the duty towards safeguarding the environment. “Environmental morality expects mutual respect,” he said.

Prof. Baxi also said: “We have short term-ism in democracy, but climate change governance requires clarity of conviction, commitment and compliance.”

Read the related article here.

—India Legal Bureau