New Delhi:
An eight-year-old girl is making waves in India’s fight against climate change. Ridhima Pandey, a child activist, filed a petition urging the government to take serious action. In response, the Supreme Court has asked eight central ministries to work together on this important issue.
The court noted that ministries focusing on environmental matters seem to be operating independently, which isn’t effective. The ministries involved include New and Renewable Energy, Power, Urban Development, Road Transport, Petroleum, Mines, Science and Technology, and Textiles.
Ridhima’s petition highlights the urgent problem of carbon emissions and their impact on our planet. The Supreme Court’s bench, led by Justices PS Narasimha and Manoj Misra, described climate change as a major global challenge. They emphasized that it affects not just the environment but also human lives and various economic systems.
The judges pointed out alarming effects like rising temperatures, unpredictable weather, and an increase in extreme events such as floods, droughts, and heatwaves. These changes threaten ecosystems and disrupt lives and jobs. Moreover, climate change puts a strain on public health, agricultural productivity, and energy use.
For developing nations like India, the social and economic effects of climate change are especially severe. The judges stressed that tackling climate change is vital for building a resilient economy, achieving social justice, and ensuring sustainable development.
The court also suggested revisiting existing environmental laws, such as the Environment Protection Act and the 1981 Air Pollution Control Act, to enhance their effectiveness.
In another related decision, a different Supreme Court bench instructed all states and Union Territories to create expert committees. These committees are tasked with evaluating lands, including forests and community forest areas, to better understand and protect these vital resources.
Last February, the Supreme Court expressed concern over a new amendment that excluded a significant area—around 1.99 lakh square kilometers—from being classified as forest land. This change could open these vital areas to other uses, which adds to the urgency of the judicial actions.
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Source linkSupreme Court,Climate change,environment
