Bhubaneswar: With the developed nations like United States staying out of climate accord, experts who attended a conference on Climate Justice here Saturday stressed the need for a comprehensive and integrated law on environment protection for ensuring justice for those countries who are bearing the burden of climatic issues.
The conference organized by Orissa Civil Liberty Forum (OCLF) pointed out that the country’s stance on climate justice has to be raise on international forums. In fact, many environmentalists also highlighted that climatic issues and its impact would create challenges for the existence of tribal people in the country.
“Our natural resources are degrading to a level that affects the existence of tribal people in the country. Therefore, we have to ensure development without ignoring the vulnerable groups like tribal population. In fact, the conservation of tribal people or other vulnerable people is very central for development,” said eminent environmentalist Nafisa D’Souza.
Notably, the eminent barrister opined that rich nations cannot ignore the India’s demand for climate justice and compensation for bearing the brunt of environmental issue created by them.
“Even though the world policy makers and leaders are not fully in tune with the crisis at hand, the intellectuals have been raising this issue. We have been betrayed and the culprit responsible for this is the USA that has walked away from the climatic obligations. In fact, India is responsible only for one third of the cumulative emission that USA is responsible for. Therefore by walking out of Paris agreement the US has made it clear that it expects other nations to sacrifice for their growth. This is not climatic justice,” opined RS Suri, Senior Advocate and President of Supreme Court Bar Association.
Meanwhile, Additional Solicitor General of India Atmaram NS Nadkarnir who raised issues like stubble burning, opposed the concept of a blanket ban on practice of stubble burning and suggested that the experts have to come up with viable solutions.
“We should all learn to protect the mother nature rather than coming out with theories. For example, the stubble burning by the farmers in Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan which causes pollution in Delhi creates pollution, smog and other issues. But, rather than blaming them for burning, they should be provided with some alternative solutions.
Participants underlined that India should raise the issue of climate justice on international forums as it is bearing the burden of climate changes more than others.
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