Climate change today is a reality facing every part of the world and India is no exception. Judicial institutions—courts and tribunals—have a crucial role in adjudicating on climate concerns as the society tries on the one hand to reduce emissions, build resilience against a rapidly warming world and erratic weather patterns, and adapt to the changing climate. Impacts of climate change include melting glaciers, rising sea levels, species decline and extinctions, as well as, at the individual level and social planes—increasing conflicts, violent behaviour and migration among other issues. Unfortunately, climate change is yet to figure prominently in judicial decisions. India’s environmental jurisprudence is still structured around principles such as ‘polluter pays’, ‘sustainable development’ and the ‘public trust doctrine’ which double up as ‘fictions’ and ‘myths’ and have limited applicability so far as climate change–related issues are concerned. Analysis of judicial decisions where there is discussion on climate change shows that there is lack of appreciation about the seriousness, enormity and the urgency to deal with the climate crisis by both members of the judiciary as well as lawyers. The failure to address climate change–related issues in a comprehensive manner represents a serious shortcoming in India’s judiciary which needs urgent attention.

今天的气候变化是世界各地面临的现实，印度也不例外。司法机构——法院和法庭——在裁决气候问题方面发挥着至关重要的作用，因为社会一方面试图减少排放，建立抵御迅速变暖的世界和不稳定的天气模式的能力，并适应不断变化的气候。气候变化的影响包括冰川融化、海平面上升、物种减少和灭绝，以及在个人和社会层面——增加冲突、暴力行为和移民等问题。不幸的是，气候变化尚未在司法判决中占据突出地位。印度的环境法学仍然围绕“污染者付费”等原则构建，“可持续发展”和“公众信任学说”既是“虚构”又是“神话”，在气候变化相关问题上的适用性有限。对讨论气候变化的司法判决的分析表明，司法人员和律师都缺乏对应对气候危机的严重性、严重性和紧迫性的认识。未能全面解决气候变化相关问题是印度司法系统的严重缺陷，亟需关注。司法人员和律师应对气候危机的艰巨性和紧迫性。未能全面解决气候变化相关问题是印度司法系统的严重缺陷，亟需关注。司法人员和律师应对气候危机的艰巨性和紧迫性。未能全面解决气候变化相关问题是印度司法系统的严重缺陷，亟需关注。