Climate Change and the Ganga Basin

Climate change is one of the most serious global challenges of our time. The world community has taken many steps to reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases to mitigate climate change. However, the failure of the international community to effectively address climate change has encouraged environmental activists and victims of climate change to take recourse to international as well as national legal systems. In India, the Himalayan-fed rivers, such as the Ganga River, will be seriously affected due to the melting glaciers and changes in rainfall patterns due to climate change. Moreover, climate change can cause a violation of the ‘Right to Life’ enshrined in the Constitution of India. The Indian Supreme Court has taken an active interest in protecting the environment and related rights of the people of India. This Book will shed light on the possible role the Supreme Court could play in addressing climate change issues in India by applying the broad constitutional provisions and the rich environmental jurisprudence developed by it in landmark environmental cases.