Trade Law and Environmental Justice: Indian Scenario

Environment and trade are interconnected with each other. The past experience has revealed that development of trade without due consideration to the environment can have a devastating impact on the environment, which in some cases might also be irreversible. Climate Change is one of the biggest problems that the world faces today. We lack behind in fulfilling the sustainable development goals that were set way back in 1992 in the Rio Declaration. Therefore, it is essential to look at environmental laws from the lenses of trade and economy. India being one of the leading developing countries has a big role to play in sustainable development. This paper analyses the various environmental laws and regulations and how they impact the Indian economy and the world trade. It also aims to understand the effectiveness of these laws in achieving sustainable development goals. More specifically, it analyses the compliance of these laws to the various commitments that India has made at the international forums in relation to environment conservation and climate change. The paper makes suggestions as to what changes can be brought in the laws to make the path of sustainable development for India a reality.