Environment & Climate

PM Modi and CJI Address NGT Conference on Climate Equity

20 September 2026UPSCSSC

In Brief

PM Modi highlights CBDR-RC while CJI urges courts to assess cumulative environmental damage.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Justice of India Surya Kant addressed the National Green Tribunal (NGT) International Conference on Climate Disputes and Environmental Justice. PM Modi emphasized that developing nations are unfairly burdened with historical carbon emissions, while CJI Surya Kant urged environmental benches to assess cumulative ecological harm rather than isolated local impacts.

The conference focused on judicial responses to climate change, sustainable development, and global climate governance. India has consistently advocated for climate equity at international forums, referencing the foundational principle of Common But Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities (CBDR-RC) established under the 1992 Rio Earth Summit and the 2015 Paris Agreement.

The National Green Tribunal was established under the NGT Act 2010 for effective and expeditious disposal of cases relating to environmental protection. Headquartered in New Delhi with five zonal benches, the NGT possesses jurisdiction over major environmental statutes, enforcing the Polluter Pays Principle and Precautionary Principle as part of Article 21 rights.

UPSC Study NotesHIGHGS3 — Environment & Ecology; GS2 — Judiciary & Statutory Bodies

GS3 — Environment & Ecology; GS2 — Judiciary & Statutory Bodies

📌 Exam Angle

UPSC will likely ask about NGT's constitutional mandate, jurisdiction, and enforcement powers in MCQs, or probe India's climate equity stance via mains questions on CBDR-RC and differentiated climate responsibilities. Watch for questions linking judicial environmental assessment to Article 21 rights and the Polluter Pays Principle.

⚠️ Key Concerns

The tension between India's global demand for climate equity (CBDR-RC) and domestic enforcement reveals whether developing nations practice what they preach on environmental standards. NGT's assessment of *cumulative* ecological harm rather than isolated impacts signals a shift toward systemic environmental accountability—critical for understanding modern climate jurisprudence versus traditional case-by-case adjudication.

💡 Why It Matters

India's dual strategy—demanding fairness in global climate negotiations while strengthening domestic judicial oversight—reflects evolving climate governance. This balances sovereignty with environmental responsibility, shaping how courts interpret constitutional rights under Article 21 and environmental statutes.

🔑 Must Remember

• NGT established under NGT Act 2010; headquartered New Delhi with 5 zonal benches; enforces Polluter Pays & Precautionary Principles • CBDR-RC: foundational principle from Rio Earth Summit (1992) & Paris Agreement (2015) anchoring climate equity for developing nations • CJI's emphasis on cumulative environmental damage assessment marks judicial evolution from isolated local impact analysis

📝 Key Terms

NGTCBDR-RCParis AgreementPolluter Pays PrinciplePrecautionary PrincipleArticle 21Climate EquityEnvironmental JusticeRio SummitClimate Jurisprudence

PM Modi and CJI Address NGT Conference on Climate Equity

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