NGT International Conference: PM Modi and CJI Surya Kant Highlight Climate Justice and Environmental Rights

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the National Green Tribunal’s two-day International Conference on ‘The Future of Environment and Climate Dynamics’ in New Delhi on September 19, 2025, setting the stage for a robust dialogue on environmental law and climate governance. The conference, attended by Chief Justice of India Justice Surya Kant, Attorney General R. Venkataramani, Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav, and NGT Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava, brought together judges, policymakers, and experts from 17 countries, along with representatives from the United Nations Environment Programme and the Asian Development Bank. The event underscored India’s growing leadership in climate action and the deepening integration of environmental rights into the country’s constitutional framework.

A Call for Climate Justice

In his inaugural address, Prime Minister Modi emphasized India’s ancient cultural connection to nature, noting that traditional wisdom is actively shaping modern climate solutions. He commended the National Green Tribunal for advancing this mission and launched the NGT Mobile Application, a digital tool aimed at streamlining environmental compliance and public access to the tribunal’s proceedings. The Prime Minister’s remarks set the tone for a conference focused on equity, inclusion, and collaborative action.

Chief Justice of India Justice Surya Kant delivered a landmark speech that resonated deeply with legal professionals. He highlighted India’s longstanding environmental jurisprudence, noting that the Supreme Court has, over the decades, recognized the right to a pollution-free environment as a fundamental right. The Chief Justice elaborated on key principles developed by the Indian judiciary—the precautionary principle, the polluter pays principle, absolute liability, and the public trust doctrine. He stressed that Indian climate jurisprudence has brought climate-related rights into sharper constitutional focus, acknowledging that adverse effects of climate change can implicate fundamental rights relating to equality, livelihood, and health. “We must call for collective judicial wisdom, scientific knowledge, and international cooperation to strengthen global environmental stewardship,” Justice Surya Kant said, urging a unified approach across borders.

India’s Environmental Jurisprudence in Focus

The conference provided a platform to revisit and reinforce India’s robust environmental legal framework. Attorney General R. Venkataramani pointed out that no country can address the environmental challenge alone and that global action must move beyond declarations toward practical and enforceable mechanisms. Referring to Prime Minister Modi’s call that “global action must match global ambitions,” he argued that India can set examples through the balancing path it has chosen while pursuing development and environmental protection. He called for a new global environmental regulatory framework and stronger international institutions to address environmental justice, integrating concerns related to energy and food security, housing, health, water, ecosystems, and economic opportunities.

Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav underscored India’s climate commitments, highlighting that non-fossil sources now account for 54.18 per cent of installed electricity capacity—surpassing the 2030 target of 50 per cent nine years ahead of schedule. He noted that 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. The Minister also highlighted India’s achievements in wildlife and ecosystem conservation, from the successful Cheetah reintroduction programme to the conservation of the Great Indian Bustard, and pointed out that India’s forest and tree cover has reached 8.27 lakh square kilometres. According to the Global Forest Resources Assessment 2025 by the UN FAO, India has retained its third position globally in terms of annual net forest-area gain.

Global Cooperation and Institutional Strengthening

The two-day conference featured four technical sessions covering key aspects of environmental and climate governance. Technical Session I, titled ‘Climate Justice, Equity and Inclusion: From Principles to Action’, focused on equity and inclusion in climate action, environmental and social safeguards, and the interconnected impacts of climate change and environmental degradation. Technical Session II, ‘The Future of Environmental Law and Governance’, discussed strengthening institutions and enforcement mechanisms, sustainable and liveable cities, energy transition, green infrastructure, and green finance.

NGT Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava welcomed delegates and highlighted India’s comprehensive approach to environmental governance under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi. He said that India's initiatives demonstrate the country's commitment not only to national action but also to global environmental cooperation. “Environmental protection is not the responsibility of any one institution or sector, but a collective national and global responsibility,” Justice Shrivastava emphasized, noting that the consequences of environmental degradation often fall most severely on those least responsible for them.

The conference also saw participation from judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts, district court judges, secretaries of various ministries, senior government officials, and representatives of State Judicial Academies, State Legal Services Authorities, State Expert Appraisal Committees, State Environment Impact Assessment Authorities, and State Wetland Authorities. The valedictory session on September 20 was attended by President Droupadi Murmu, Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs and Power Manohar Lal, Supreme Court Judge Justice PS Narasimha, NGT Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava, and Solicitor General Tushar Mehta.

Legal Implications and the Road Ahead

For legal professionals, the conference’s emphasis on judicial cooperation and the evolution of environmental law principles carries significant implications. The Chief Justice’s reaffirmation that a pollution-free environment is a fundamental right reinforces the constitutional basis for climate litigation. The recognition that climate change can affect equality, livelihood, and health rights opens new avenues for public interest litigation. The discussion on the precautionary principle and absolute liability signals that Indian courts are likely to continue applying strict standards in environmental cases, especially where irreversible harm is at stake.

The NGT’s role as a specialized tribunal was also highlighted. The launch of the NGT Mobile Application is expected to improve transparency and ease of access for litigants and environmental activists. The conference’s call for a new global regulatory framework may influence India’s stance at international forums like UNFCCC COP31, where the country will advocate for climate action centered on equity, implementation, and the needs of vulnerable nations.

Conclusion

The National Green Tribunal’s International Conference on ‘The Future of Environment and Climate Dynamics’ has reaffirmed India’s commitment to environmental justice and climate action. By bringing together legal minds, policymakers, and scientists from around the world, the event has strengthened the foundation for collaborative solutions to pressing global challenges. As the world grapples with the escalating impacts of climate change, the principles and partnerships forged at this conference will serve as a guiding light for sustainable development and inter-generational equity. For the legal community, the message is clear: environmental rights are fundamental, and the law must evolve to protect them.