THE ROLE OF LAW IN ADDRESSING CLIMATE CHANGE: INSIGHTS FROM THE INDIAN CONTEXT

Abstract

Climate change refers to long-term and measurable shifts in weather patterns that occur over several decades or longer. These changes may appear as variations in average temperatures, rainfall, or in the frequency of extreme events. In India, human activities such as rapid industrial growth, deforestation, and high levels of greenhouse gas emissions are major contributors to global warming. The impacts of climate change are interconnected and affect multiple sectors. For example, droughts reduce agricultural productivity and affect public health, while floods increase the spread of diseases and damage ecosystems, homes, and critical infrastructure. These effects also influence food security, economic stability, and overall human well-being.

Climate change has become one of the most urgent issues of our time, and India is experiencing its impacts on a large and unprecedented scale—from unpredictable monsoons to rising sea levels and more frequent natural disasters. Without timely action, the cost of adapting to these changes will increase significantly. In this context, law plays an essential role in shaping the country’s response to climate challenges. This paper explores how India’s legal framework addresses climate change by examining environmental protection laws, constitutional principles, human rights perspectives, institutional mechanisms, and key judicial decisions of courts and tribunals. The study highlights how environmental law and human rights approaches are becoming increasingly interconnected in India’s efforts to manage and reduce the impacts of climate change.