The Right to Life, and Environment

Context: Tackling climate change is important for India to fulfil its constitutional promises.

Problems associated with climate change in India

• Violation of constitution: As climate change impinge upon freedom of movement, and deny equality of status and opportunity to millions of disadvantaged citizens like the forest-dwelling communities. 
• Rising disaster: like floods, droughts, heatwaves and unpredictable monsoon rains.
• Adverse effects on health and financial systems.

Way forward: to tackle the challenges posed by climate change

• Uphold constitutional values:
  • Fraternity or bandhuta can serve as a call to action for the powerful entities to direct their resources towards shaping India’s response to climate change.
  • “Assuring the dignity of the individual”, as framed in the
  • Article 21, 48A and 51A(g) of the Indian constitution together form a clear constitutional mandate to protect the environment. 
• Build a green and just transition. 
  • Role of Indian business: by encouraging innovation, complementing the role of the state, and securing citizens’ legislated rights
  • Climate philanthropy should develop and pilot new solutions and inspire political action.
  • Could become mainstream drivers for the three key pillars of jobs, growth and sustainability.
• Building a climate-friendly development paradigm: powered by clean energy that could play an integral role in fostering social and economic justice by uplifting millions of Indians.
  • E.g. Rural livelihoods supported by clean-energy appliances such as grain crushers and cold chains that build decentralised access to electricity, reduce drudgery and foster entrepreneurship.

Conclusion: The way out from the climate change can be rooted in the constitutional framework (a framework that is progressive in scope and ambitious in vision) that binds together millions of Indians despite their myriad differences.