Climate Change | Sincere Efforts Made By Centre For Providing Better Environment: Delhi High Court

This Delhi High Court has appreciated the efforts made by the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change as well as other Ministries for ensuring implementation of the steps in respect of climate change and for "providing a better environment for the generations to come."

The development comes in a PIL filed by one Rohit Madan, seeking constitution of an Expert Committee to propose suggestions for taking all measures, including any legislative amendment, for following up on the promises made by the Union of India before UNFCCC.

"This Court really appreciates the sincere efforts made on the part of the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, Government of India as well as other Ministries for ensuring implementation of the steps in respect of climate change and for providing a better environment for the generations to come," the Court said.

The Court had sought a status report from the Central government, detailing the steps taken by it to meet the commitments made before the 2021 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, held at Glasgow in the United Kingdom (COP 26).

A division bench comprising of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Subramonium Prasad took note of the status report filed by the Centre stating that the Cabinet had approved India's updated Nationally Determined Contribution for achieving India's long-term goal of reaching net-zero by 2070.

The Court was also informed that India is now committed to reduce emissions intensity of its GDP by 45 percent by 2030. Perusing the status report, the Court said:

"The aforesaid status report makes it very clear that the Union of India is proceeding ahead at a war footing in implementing the Nationally Determined Contributions and the Union Cabinet chaired by Hon'ble Prime Minister has approved India's updated Nationally Determined Contribution to be communicated to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change."

The Court further noted that various incentive schemes were approved for providing concession and incentives for production of manufacturing and adoption of renewable energy and that steps were initiated to implement the climate change commitments made by the Prime Minister in the country.

Thus, the counsel appearing for the petitioner stated that no further orders were required to be passed keeping in view the steps taken by the Government of India.

Accordingly, the plea was withdrawn from Court.

Case Title: Rohit Madan v Union of India and Ors.

Citation: 2022 LiveLaw (Del) 775

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