President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu, today addressed the valedictory session of the National Green Tribunal’s (NGT) two-day International Conference on ‘The Future of Environment and Climate Dynamics’ in New Delhi. The valedictory session was attended by Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs, and Power, Shri Manohar Lal; Judge (Supreme Court of India), Justice B.V. Nagarathna; Chairperson (NGT), Justice Prakash Shrivastava; and Solicitor General of India, Shri Tushar Mehta.

 

In her keynote address, the President lauded the National Green Tribunal for its role in strengthening environmental governance, and laid stress on strengthening climate resilience through people-centric and community-based adaptation approaches rooted in traditional knowledge.

(Press Release Link: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasepage.aspx?PRID=2312728&reg=3&lang=1)

Addressing the occasion, Union Minister Shri Manohar Lal highlighted India’s efforts to balance rapid development with environmental sustainability, noting that non-fossil sources account for nearly 55 per cent of installed generation capacity. He said India had achieved its 50 per cent non-fossil capacity target five years ahead of schedule. He also highlighted initiatives in sustainable urban development, water security, public transport, green mobility and electric vehicles, stressing the need for positive collective action to address climate change.

In her speech, Justice B.V. Nagarathna said environmental governance must balance development and conservation, present needs and future interests, while accounting for differentiated impacts across communities and generations. She highlighted the Supreme Court of India’s shift towards an ecocentric approach and stressed effective institutions, enforcement, transparency, accountability and access to justice. She said interconnected challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution and water scarcity require cooperation among jurisdictions, knowledge-sharing and equitable responsibility among nations.

NGT Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava, in his valedictory address, said the discussions over the two days had highlighted the need to move beyond identifying environmental challenges towards building laws, institutions and partnerships capable of responding to them. He said climate action must be inclusive and equitable, particularly attentive to vulnerable communities and future generations, while environmental law must remain responsive and forward-looking, embracing technology, innovation, sustainable finance and just transition.

In his remarks, Solicitor General of India Shri Tushar Mehta said environmental challenges require the combined wisdom of law, governance, science, economics and society. He emphasised the need to balance biodiversity protection with climate action and development, supported by scientific assessment, innovation and sustainable development. He said environmental protection is not an impediment to human progress but a condition for enduring progress, requiring stronger institutions, effective implementation and responsible governance.

On the occasion, Shri Manohar Lal released NGT’s Souvenir titled ‘Harit Nyayam’ and presented its first copy to the President of India. The document chronicles the establishment, growth and achievements of the Tribunal. It is also an important repository for policy makers, legal fraternity and the citizens of the country as it is a lasting reflection of ideas, perspectives and collective resolve that have shaped the two-day conference.

The two-day Conference, inaugurated by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on 19.09.2026, brought together jurists, academicians, policymakers, scientists, environmental experts and other stakeholders from 17 countries, along with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The Conference provided a platform for dialogue and knowledge exchange on judicial, scientific, policy and institutional best practices, while encouraging collaborative action on pressing environmental and climate challenges.

The second day featured two technical sessions, as below:

1. ‘Planetary Environmental Challenges and Cooperation’, focusing on interconnected environmental and climate challenges, shared natural resources, competing national interests, transboundary cooperation and regional and international best practices.
2. ‘Forests for the Future: A Dialogue on Forest Protection & Restoration’, focused on forest governance, sustainable forest management, community participation, biodiversity conservation, emerging threats to forests, legal and institutional mechanisms, and the use of technology and scientific and satellite-based monitoring. The session also featured reflections on the way forward, including a shared vision, priority actions, regional cooperation, institutional partnerships and measurable goals.

The deliberations over the two days provided an opportunity for judicial, scientific, policy and institutional perspectives from different jurisdictions to converge on common environmental challenges. The Conference emphasised the need for stronger environmental governance, climate justice, institutional cooperation, knowledge exchange and practical approaches to addressing transboundary environmental challenges.

The Conference concluded with a shared emphasis on translating environmental principles and commitments into effective action, stronger institutions and sustained international cooperation for a sustainable, resilient and equitable future.

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VM/GS

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