The National Green Tribunal is organising the two-day International Conference on “The Future of Environment and Climate Dynamics” at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, on 19–20 September 2026. The conference brings together judges, environmental experts, government institutions and international representatives to discuss climate justice, environmental governance, biodiversity, resilience and institutional cooperation.
The Future of Environment and Climate Dynamics 2026
Environmental challenges are increasingly difficult to address through isolated laws or individual government departments. Climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution, forest degradation and wetland destruction often cut across administrative boundaries and involve science, law, economics, governance and questions of social justice.
Against this background, the National Green Tribunal's international conference seeks to bring together judicial experience, scientific knowledge and environmental governance practices.
The broader message is important for India: environmental protection depends not only on having strong laws, but also on credible institutions, scientific decision-making, effective enforcement and access to environmental justice.
Key Themes of the Conference
The official conference programme includes major themes such as:
- Climate Change and Resilience
- Climate Justice, Equity and Inclusion
- The Future of Environmental Law and Governance
- Circular Economy
- Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services
- Sustainable Energy Solutions
- Planetary Environmental Challenges and Cooperation
- Forest Protection and Restoration
These themes underline a significant shift in environmental policy: environmental governance is no longer restricted to controlling pollution after damage occurs. It increasingly involves prevention, resilience, ecological restoration, distributive justice and long-term sustainability.
What is the National Green Tribunal?
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) is a specialised statutory environmental adjudicatory body established under the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010.
It became operational on 18 October 2010 to provide effective and expeditious disposal of cases relating to environmental protection, conservation of forests and natural resources, enforcement of environmental rights, and relief and compensation for environmental damage.
Unlike an ordinary court dealing with a wide range of disputes, the NGT combines judicial expertise with specialised environmental expertise.
The NGT is a statutory body, not a constitutional body. It was created by the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010.
Composition of the NGT
Under the NGT Act, the Tribunal consists of:
- A full-time Chairperson
- Judicial Members
- Expert Members with relevant scientific, engineering, administrative or environmental experience
This mix is particularly important because environmental disputes often require understanding of hydrology, ecology, pollution science, environmental impact assessment, forestry, climate change and hazardous substances in addition to legal principles.
Where Does the NGT Sit?
The Principal Bench is located in New Delhi. Other zonal places of sitting include:
- Bhopal – Central Zone
- Pune – Western Zone
- Kolkata – Eastern Zone
- Chennai – Southern Zone
Jurisdiction and Powers of the NGT
Under Section 14 of the NGT Act, the Tribunal has jurisdiction over civil cases involving a substantial question relating to the environment where the dispute arises from implementation of laws listed in Schedule I of the Act.
It can also provide:
- Relief and compensation to victims of pollution and environmental damage
- Restitution of damaged property
- Restoration of the environment
- Appellate review of specified environmental decisions
NGT orders are binding and executable. An appeal against an NGT decision may be made to the Supreme Court, generally within 90 days as provided under the Act.
The NGT is not simply an advisory environmental institution. It exercises adjudicatory jurisdiction and can order compensation, environmental restitution and other enforceable remedies.
Three Core Environmental Principles Applied by NGT
Section 20 of the National Green Tribunal Act specifically requires the Tribunal to apply three important environmental principles.
1. Sustainable Development
Sustainable development seeks to reconcile economic development with environmental protection and the interests of future generations.
It does not necessarily require stopping development. Instead, development must take place within ecological limits and incorporate environmental costs.
2. Precautionary Principle
Where an activity poses a risk of serious or irreversible environmental harm, lack of complete scientific certainty should not automatically become a reason for delaying protective measures.
In practical terms, environmental policy should seek to prevent damage before it becomes irreversible.
3. Polluter Pays Principle
The entity responsible for pollution should bear the costs associated with preventing, controlling and remedying environmental damage rather than shifting those costs to society.
Environmental law has gradually moved from a narrow pollution-control approach towards the broader idea of environmental accountability. The polluter pays principle internalises environmental costs, while the precautionary principle seeks to prevent irreversible damage before compensation becomes necessary.
Why Climate Justice Matters
Climate change does not affect every community equally.
Those with the smallest contribution to greenhouse-gas emissions may sometimes face the greatest exposure to floods, droughts, heatwaves, sea-level rise, livelihood losses and ecological degradation.
Climate justice therefore asks questions such as:
- Who is most responsible for environmental damage?
- Who bears the greatest costs?
- Who has the financial and technological capacity to respond?
- How should the burdens of mitigation and adaptation be distributed?
- How should vulnerable communities participate in environmental decisions?
Climate justice thus adds an equity dimension to climate policy.
Climate Justice at the International Level
At the global level, climate justice is closely connected with the principle of Common but Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities (CBDR-RC).
The principle recognises that climate change is a common challenge, but countries differ in historical contributions to emissions as well as economic, technological and institutional capacities.
For developing countries such as India, this creates an important policy argument for:
- Climate finance
- Technology transfer
- Adaptation support
- Equitable carbon space
- A just and development-compatible energy transition
Environmental Impact Assessment and Institutional Governance
The participation of State Environment Impact Assessment Authorities and State Expert Appraisal Committees in the conference is particularly relevant for UPSC preparation.
India's principal environmental-clearance framework is based on the Environment Impact Assessment Notification, 2006, issued under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
What is Environmental Impact Assessment?
Environmental Impact Assessment is a planning and decision-making process used to identify, predict and evaluate the likely environmental consequences of certain proposed projects before they are approved.
A sound EIA system seeks to answer three basic questions:
- What environmental damage could a proposed project cause?
- Can that damage be avoided or reduced?
- Are there environmentally preferable alternatives?
SEIAA and SEAC
At the State level, the institutional framework includes:
- SEIAA: State Environment Impact Assessment Authority
- SEAC: State Expert Appraisal Committee
The SEAC provides technical appraisal and recommendations, while the SEIAA performs the decision-making role for projects falling within its prescribed jurisdiction under the EIA framework.
SEIAA and SEAC perform different functions. SEAC is primarily an expert appraisal body; SEIAA is the State-level authority that considers environmental clearance on the basis of the applicable appraisal process.
Why Environmental Governance Often Fails Despite Strong Laws
One of the key issues identified for discussion at the conference is the gap between policy formulation, implementation and enforcement.
India already has an extensive framework of environmental laws and institutions. Yet environmental outcomes may remain weak because of several implementation challenges.
1. Institutional Capacity
Pollution-control boards, local authorities and environmental institutions may face shortages of trained personnel, laboratories, technical expertise and monitoring capacity.
2. Fragmented Governance
Environmental problems frequently involve multiple departments and jurisdictions. A river may pass through several States, while air pollution may spread across an entire airshed.
3. Weak Monitoring
Environmental clearance conditions have limited value if post-clearance compliance is not effectively monitored.
4. Data Gaps
Reliable and timely environmental data are essential for assessing groundwater extraction, air quality, biodiversity loss, wetland degradation and industrial pollution.
5. Cumulative Environmental Impacts
Project-by-project assessment may sometimes fail to capture the combined ecological burden created by multiple mines, roads, industries, dams or urban projects within the same landscape.
6. Development–Environment Conflicts
Infrastructure, energy, mining and urban-development projects can provide substantial economic benefits but may also impose environmental and social costs. The core governance challenge is therefore not to choose mechanically between development and conservation, but to ensure that ecological costs are scientifically assessed and minimised.
Wetlands: A Good Example of the Governance Challenge
State Wetland Authorities are among the stakeholders associated with the conference. Wetlands provide several ecosystem services, including:
- Flood moderation
- Groundwater recharge
- Water purification
- Carbon storage
- Fish and livelihood resources
- Habitat for migratory and resident species
Yet wetlands are frequently threatened by encroachment, pollution, changes in drainage, infrastructure development and conversion of land.
This illustrates why environmental governance must move beyond simply notifying protected areas towards maintaining ecological functions.
Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services
Biodiversity is not valuable only because individual species deserve protection. Healthy ecosystems provide services on which economies and societies depend.
These include:
- Pollination
- Soil formation
- Water regulation
- Coastal protection
- Carbon sequestration
- Food and medicinal resources
Loss of biodiversity can therefore translate into economic and livelihood risks.
Environmental Constitutionalism in India
India's environmental governance also has a constitutional dimension.
- Article 48A: The State shall endeavour to protect and improve the environment and safeguard forests and wildlife.
- Article 51A(g): It is a Fundamental Duty of every citizen to protect and improve the natural environment.
Judicial interpretation of Article 21 has also played an important role in connecting environmental quality with the right to life.
Environmental governance in India rests on three mutually reinforcing pillars: constitutional values, statutory regulation and environmental jurisprudence. Effective governance requires all three to be supported by credible science and capable institutions.
Judiciary and Environmental Governance: Why It Matters
Environmental cases are unusual because damage may be delayed, cumulative or irreversible. By the time traditional litigation reaches final resolution, ecological damage may already have occurred.
Specialised environmental adjudication can therefore contribute through:
- Faster resolution of disputes
- Scientific and expert participation
- Preventive interventions
- Compensation and environmental restitution
- Enforcement of regulatory obligations
At the same time, courts and tribunals cannot substitute permanently for regulatory agencies. Pollution-control boards, environment departments, local governments and statutory authorities remain responsible for day-to-day environmental administration.
The Larger Governance Question
The conference highlights a fundamental shift in the environmental debate. The central question is no longer simply: “Do we have environmental laws?”
The more important questions are:
- Are environmental institutions adequately staffed and technically capable?
- Is scientific evidence incorporated into decision-making?
- Are clearance conditions monitored after approval?
- Can citizens obtain environmental information and justice?
- Are vulnerable communities represented in decisions?
- Are ecological thresholds considered before irreversible damage occurs?
Way Forward
Strengthen Environmental Institutions
Pollution-control boards, SEIAAs, SEACs, Wetland Authorities and local bodies require adequate manpower, laboratories, technology and independent technical capacity.
Move from Clearance to Compliance
Environmental governance should not end when clearance is granted. Continuous monitoring of clearance conditions and transparent disclosure of compliance are equally important.
Improve Cumulative Impact Assessment
Projects within the same river basin, airshed, coastline or ecological landscape should increasingly be evaluated for their combined impacts rather than in isolation.
Use Technology Carefully
Remote sensing, GIS, drones, continuous emission monitoring and digital environmental databases can improve enforcement, but technology must complement rather than replace field verification and institutional accountability.
Strengthen Public Participation
Communities directly affected by environmental decisions should have access to information and meaningful opportunities to participate in decision-making.
Integrate Climate Adaptation into Development
Infrastructure, agriculture, urban development and disaster-management policies should incorporate future climate risks instead of relying exclusively on historical weather patterns.
Promote Environmental Restoration
Environmental governance should focus not only on preventing new damage but also on restoring degraded rivers, wetlands, forests, mining landscapes and urban ecosystems.
Conclusion
The International Conference on “The Future of Environment and Climate Dynamics” brings attention to an increasingly important reality: environmental crises are not caused merely by absence of laws; they often emerge from gaps between law, science, institutions and implementation.
India has developed an extensive environmental legal framework and a specialised adjudicatory institution in the National Green Tribunal. The next challenge is to ensure that environmental governance becomes more preventive, scientifically informed, transparent and capable of addressing climate risks before ecological damage becomes irreversible.
The ultimate objective should be to move from an approach based primarily on environmental clearance and post-damage compensation towards one centred on ecological resilience, climate justice and responsible development.
- NGT was established under the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010.
- It became operational on 18 October 2010.
- NGT is a statutory body.
- Its Principal Bench is in New Delhi.
- Other places of sitting include Bhopal, Pune, Kolkata and Chennai.
- Section 14 deals with environmental jurisdiction involving substantial environmental questions.
- Section 20 mandates sustainable development, precautionary principle and polluter pays principle.
- Appeals from NGT orders can be made to the Supreme Court under the Act.
- EIA Notification, 2006 operates under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
- SEAC performs expert appraisal; SEIAA is the State-level environmental clearance authority for applicable projects.
- Article 48A relates to State responsibility towards the environment.
- Article 51A(g) places an environmental Fundamental Duty on citizens.
Mains Practice Questions
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- National Green Tribunal – International Conference on The Future of Environment & Climate Dynamics
- Press Information Bureau – International Conference on Environment and Climate Dynamics
- National Green Tribunal – About NGT, Jurisdiction and Procedure
- India Code – National Green Tribunal Act, 2010
- PARIVESH – Environmental Impact Assessment Notification, 2006 ```
