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International Conference on Environmental Diversity and Environmental Jurisprudence at Chandigarh University

 Nature harmed in quest for development; people’s movement needed for
environmental protection: Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu

 

VP inaugurates 2-day-long International Conference on Environmental
Diversity and Environmental Jurisprudence at Chandigarh University, Gharuan

 

Supreme Court Judges, representatives from 20
countries, UN, HP High Court Chief Justice among 4000 deliberate at Chandigarh
University on future roadmap for a better world

 

 

MOHALI: Asserting
that nature has been harmed beyond repair in the human race’s quest for
development,
Vice President of India, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu on Saturday
called for a people’s movement of eco-conscious lifestyles enabled by serious
introspection and bold actions and policies to combat the impact of climate
change and protect
the environment.


Man
has tinkered too long with nature
and now
there is an urgent need to reverse this hazardous trend. It is
not only the government’s
duty, but it is the duty of every citizen and human being on earth to
save this planet,”
said Naidu, while speaking after inaugurating a
two-day international
conference on ‘Environmental Diversity & Environmental Jurisprudence:
National & International Perspective’ organised by Chandigarh University,
at its Gharuan campus.

Governor of Punjab, and Administrator, UT Chandigarh,
Shri Banwarilal Purohit, Hon’ble Justices of the Supreme Court of India, Justices
B R Gavai and Surya Kant, United Nation Resident Commissioner in India, Shombi
Sharp, Justice Shri Mohammad Rafiq, Chief Justice, High Court of Himachal
Pradesh, representatives from 20 countries including Judges, High Commissioner,
Ambassadors, Environmentalists, Lawyers, Experts in Biodiversity and Environmental
Jurisprudence from all over the globe, former Supreme Court Judge and former
NGT chairman, Justice (Retd.) Swatanter Kumar, S. Satnam Singh Sandhu,
Chancellor, Chandigarh University, besides 4000 students participated on the
day one of the conference, which is being organised with a vision to formulate
the roadmap and future direction to India’s efforts at attaining the global targets
for environment protection and climate change.

In
his inaugural address, Naidu said that man-made
causes have led to
climate change as well as driving a million species to extinction.

We
have harmed nature beyond repair, destroyed forests, disrupted the ecological
balance, and are now reaping the adverse consequences. There is a need to do a serious introspection and
take bold actions to mitigate the reality of rising temperatures, increasing
extreme events and diminishing biodiversity,” said Naidu, who was the chief guest at the ceremony.


Noting
that Indian
civilisational values have always worshipped nature, Naidu said that the concept
of ecological protection is embedded in our DNA, and both our scriptures and our constitution
enshrine the principles of environmental protection.

Quoting
Mahatma Gandhi’s statement:
‘Nature has enough for man’s need but not
for his greed’, Naidu said that students have to be made aware of the carbon
and ecological footprint of their lifestyle choice at an early age.

The
Vice President said that India has been leading the way for the world
in
forging a collective action by various countries under the International Solar
Alliance as seen in the recent COP26 Summit in Glasgow.

“In the words of the Prime Minister, what we need is a
mass movement of eco-conscious lifestyles. To be able to achieve the 1.5°C global warming limit, we
must aim at both macro-level systemic changes as well as micro-level lifestyle
choices. We need a people’s movement for environmental protection.
Unless
environmental protection becomes a people’s movement, our future is bleak”, he
emphasised.
Lauding the Indian
higher judiciary for upholding environmental justice over the years, he
suggested that “lower courts too must uphold an eco-centric view and keep the
best interests of the local populations and biodiversity in their judgments.” He
called for stringent action against violators of pollution laws and strict
enforcement of the ‘Polluter Must Pay’ principle.

Highlighting the contributions of the National Green
Tribunal, Naidu called
for
training more legal practitioners in environmental law, making poorer
sections aware of their rights,
creation of
specialised benches, and making
legislations that maintain a fine balance between ‘ecology and economy’.

Emphasising the importance of such international
conferences, Shri Naidu said that “we have to learn from each other globally
and adopt best practices from all over the world”. He appreciated Chandigarh
University for its initiative and hoped the conference will open a new chapter
in environmental protection in the country.

Speaking
on the occasion, Hon’ble Governor, Punjab And Administrator, UT Chandigarh Shri
Banwarilal Purohit said that human development in the 21st century is directly
linked to protecting environmental resources from mindless consumption and
destruction.

“There
is a need to synergize economic development and environmental resources. We
need to usher movement that involves the people – “People’s Participation”. It
is only when we give people a direct stake in protecting the environment that
they will become active partners of Government,” said Governor, who presided
over the inaugural ceremony.

Noting
that human beings will have to develop a greater sense of universal
responsibility to meet the challenge of our times, Purohit said, “It is
essential that we re-examine ethically what we have inherited, what we are
responsible for, and what we will pass on to coming generations. We must act
before it is too late.”

Hon’ble Justice of the Supreme Court of India, Justice B
R Gavai said, “We must remember that we have not inherited this planet from our
ancestors but have borrowed it from our children. This way, we will be more
judicious in our usage of energy resources.”

Hon’ble Justice of the Supreme Court of India, Justice Surya
Kant said that the time has come that the world and its citizens shoulder their
efforts towards building a sustainable community in quick and effective way and
added that Indian courts have never shied from exercising its discretionary
powers for the protection of environment.

UN Resident Commissioner in India, Shombi Sharp said that
declining biodiversity,
climate change and pollution are the 3 main challenges facing mankind.

“This
world today is in turmoil but I have high hopes, especially from India, the
current leader of the world in several fields. The Panchamrit mantra given by
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will play an important role in environmental
protection,” said Sharp, while appreciating the efforts of the National Green
Tribunal.

Noting that human beings have always exploited nature for
a comfortable life, Justice Shri Mohammad Rafiq, Chief Justice, High Court of
Himachal Pradesh, said that well-thought-out policies and active participation
of youth is necessary to ensure ecological balance.

Addressing the gathering, Chancellor of Chandigarh
University, S. Satnam Singh Sandhu said that climate change and environment
justice is a global issues, and this conference is a unique platform where
voice from all over the globe will be discussing and deliberating the roadmap
for a better world of tomorrow. This is also an experiential learning for our
students and the next crop of lawyers, Sandhu added.

“The Chandigarh University will prepare a detailed report
and roadmap, and present it to the Government of India, based on discussions
and consultations with the participants during this conference,” said the
Chancellor.

In the concluding ceremony of the conference scheduled
for Sunday, Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shri
Bhupinder Yadav will be the chief guest.

 

 

 

 

About Chandigarh University

Chandigarh University is ranked among the Leading & Best Educational Institution in North India. CU is constantly ranked among the top institutions of Punjab for academic excellence, innovative pedagogy, research, and placements by reputed national and international accreditation bodies and media houses.

About 118 Universities from India have made it to the prestigious QS Asia Universities Rankings 2022. Among all the Indian Universities, Chandigarh University has been adjudged the 35th position overall, while it bagged an impressive 7th position among the private universities of India.

Since inception, CU has set benchmarks for engineering education & is ranked among the Best Engineering Colleges of Punjab.

CUCET is a National level online entrance test conducted by Chandigarh University, accredited with the prestigious A+ grade by NAAC.

For more information, visit: Chandigarh University

News Source: news.cuchd.in

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