JUDICIAL APPROACHES TO CLIMATE CHANGE AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
AUTHOR – V. VAIRAJYOTHI. PROFESSOR AT GTN LAW COLLEGE, DINDIGUL
BEST CITATION – V. VAIRAJYOTHI, JUDICIAL APPROACHES TO CLIMATE CHANGE AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, INDIAN JOURNAL OF LEGAL REVIEW (IJLR), 6 (7) OF 2026, PG. 05-12, APIS – 3920 – 0001 & ISSN – 2583-2344.
ABSTRACT
Every nation in the world is coping with climate change, which has now crossed national borders and endangered all species. Innovative attorneys have brought climate issues to court even in nations without laws or rules addressing the issue, despite the fact that many nations have passed rules and regulations to do so. This abstract looks at significant cases that have widened legal frameworks and encouraged sustainable development. Two notable and well-known cases are MK Ranjitsinh and IRS v. UOI 2024. Articles 14 and 21 in the Constitution were expanded by the SC, which concluded that citizens had a basic right to be protected from the varied effects of climate change.Key cases pertaining to constitutional rights include M.C. Mehta vs UOI, 1987, Tehri Vidrohi Sangharsh Samiti vs. State of Uttar Pradesh,1990, Olga Tellis and Others vs Bumbai Municipal Corporation and Others, Vellore Citizens Welfare Forum, 1996, Kendra Dehradun vs. State of UP.
Gloucester Resources Limited v. Planning Minister, 2019: Since the project’s economic benefits were deemed “uncertain and substantially overstated,” the decision is not based only, or even primarily, on climate change considerations; rather, it is based on more thorough planning as well as environmental considerations alongside a complete cost-benefit analysis.
Juliana v. United States (2016): In this instance, young climate activists argue that the US government’s actions and negligence on climate change violate the Constitution’s guarantees to life, liberty, and the possession of property. The case has raised awareness of intergenerational equity and climate justice despite legal challenges.
In Sharma v. Union of India (2023), The Indian Supreme Court ordered the government to take prompt action to combat air pollution in Delhi-NCR, emphasizing the link between atmospheric pollution and climate change.
The UK High Court held in R (ClientEarth) v. Secretary of State for Transport (2023) that the Nation’s net-zero strategy is insufiicient, which emphasized the need for specific actions to reach climate targets. In State of Odisha v. Union of India (2024), The Indian Supreme Court emphasized the need for sustainable development with safeguarding the environment in the midst of mining activities, highlighting the importance of finding a balance among environmental concerns and economic advancement. The following noteworthy case laws highlight the expanding application of legal tools to combat climate change and promote sustainable development the People’s Climate Case (2021), Milieudefensie v. Shell (2021), Le Quéré v. France (2021), and Urgenda Foundation v. State of the Netherlands (2015). They emphasize the importance of responsibility and equity across generations as well as the part courts play in advancing climate action.