Published on 08th June 2025
Authored By: Sneha Goyal
ABSTRACT
We are at turning point in history, and climate change is the most important issue of our time. It refers to change in global temperature and weather patterns, primarily driven by human activities like burning fossil fuels. It leads to various impacts including rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and altered ecosystems.
This article talks about the climate legislations taken by government such as enforcement of air pollution act, water pollution act, national green tribunal act and many more. These acts helps to prevent environment by regulation laws and policies.
UNFCC has introduced conventions such as Kyoto protocol, Paris agreement and so on to protect the environment and reduce climate change effects globally.
This abstract provides an outline of main ideas, legislations, conventions, protocol, importance of changing law regarding climate.
INTRODUCTION
Climate change refers to prolonged alterations in temperatures and weather patterns. Such alterations can occur naturally, resulting from shifts in the sun’s activity or significant volcanic eruptions. However, since the 1800s, human actions have been the primary cause of climate change, mainly due to the combustion of fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and gas.
Combustion of fossil fuels produces greenhouse gas emissions that function similarly to a blanket surrounding the Earth, trapping heat from the sun and increasing temperatures. The principal greenhouse gases contributing to climate change are carbon dioxide and methane. These are produced from utilizing gasoline to drive a vehicle or coal to heat a building, for instance. Deforestation and land clearing can additionally emit carbon dioxide. Agriculture, oil, and gas activities serve as significant sources of methane emissions. Energy, industry, transportation, buildings, agriculture, and land use represent key sectors responsible for greenhouse gases.
Humans are accountable for global warming. Climate scientists have demonstrated that humans are the driving force behind nearly all global warming in the past 200 years. Human actions, like those previously noted, are generating greenhouse gases that are heating the planet at a rate not seen in at least the last two millennia.
The Earth’s average surface temperature has now increased by approximately 1. 2°C compared to the late 1800s (prior to the industrial revolution) and is higher than it has been in the last 100,000 years. The last ten years (2011-2020) recorded the highest temperatures, and each of the last four decades has surpassed all prior decades since 1850.
A lot of individuals believe that climate change predominantly signifies warmer temperatures. However, the increase in temperature is merely the initial aspect of the situation. Since the Earth operates as a system, where everything is interlinked, alterations in one area can affect changes in all other areas.
The impacts of climate change currently encompass, among others, intense droughts, water shortages, severe wildfires, rising sea levels, flooding, melting ice caps, devastating storms, and decreasing biodiversity. People are encountering climate change in various ways.
Climate change can influence our health, capacity to produce food, housing, safety, and employment. Some of us are already more susceptible to climate impacts, including individuals residing in small island nations and other developing countries. Issues like rising sea levels and saltwater intrusion have progressed to the extent that entire communities have been forced to move, and extended droughts are endangering people with famine. In the future, the number of individuals displaced by weather-related occurrences is projected to increase.
The emissions responsible for climate change originate from every corner of the globe and impact all individuals, yet certain nations contribute significantly more than others. The top six emitters (China, the United States of America, India, the European Union, the Russian Federation, and Brazil) collectively represented over half of the total global greenhouse gas emissions in 2023. In contrast, the 45 least developed nations contributed merely 3 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions.
Everyone is required to engage in climate action, though individuals and nations that are generating a larger portion of the issue bear a greater obligation to take initial steps.
Adapting to the impacts of climate change safeguards individuals, residences, enterprises, jobs, infrastructure, and natural ecosystems. It encompasses present effects and those anticipated in the future. Adaptation will be necessary in all areas, but it must be prioritized immediately for the most at-risk populations with the least resources to deal with climate challenges. The potential for return can be substantial. For example, disaster early warning systems preserve lives and property, and can provide advantages up to 10 times the original investment.
WHAT IS CLIMATE CHANGE LEGISLATION ?
Climate change legislation, commonly referred to as climate legislation, encompasses the laws and policies that oversee actions regarding climate change by establishing its legal foundation. The term is used in a broad sense and can include acts, decrees, and policies that are enacted or released by both the legislative and executive branches of government. These laws and policies target actions that fall within the realm of climate change mitigation, adaptation, and disaster risk management. Laws and policies may be applicable across various sectors or concentrate on a specific one, such as agriculture, land use, transport, energy, waste, environment, tourism, industry, buildings, water, and health.
The term climate ‘framework legislation’ refers to a significant subset of climate laws that connect national and international agendas. Framework climate laws possess some or all of the following features: they outline the strategic direction for national climate change policy; are enacted by the legislative branch of government; include national, long-term and/or medium targets and/or pathways for change; define institutional arrangements for climate governance at the national level; are multi-sectoral in nature; and incorporate mechanisms for transparency and/or accountability.
IMPORTANT CLIMATE CHANGE LAWS IN INDIA
The Environmental Protection Act of 1986 stands as the most significant legislation concerning climate changes in India. This Act grants authority to the Central and State governments for the purpose of – First, safeguarding and enhancing the quality of the environment. Second, preventing and mitigating environmental pollution.
The Air Prevention and Control of Pollution Act of 1981 is groundbreaking legislation that permits the State to regulate the standards for air pollutant emissions. The Act authorizes the State to inspect any factory and examine any control equipment and manufacturing processes. It also allows the State to implement necessary measures for controlling air pollution. No industry is allowed to function without complying with the stipulations indicated in this act.
The National Green Tribunal Act of 2010 was established to regulate the National Green Tribunal. These Tribunals were created to ensure the swift and effective resolution of cases related to environmental protection. These tribunals also possess jurisdiction over cases where a significant environmental question arises.
The Energy Conservation Act of 2001 was enacted to create a legal framework for the efficient utilization of energy. It accomplishes this by ensuring that only energy-efficient equipment is available to consumers and by offering a comprehensive framework for power development.
The Forest Conservation Act of 1980 was enacted to preserve and protect the existing forests in India. Following the passing of this act, all forests became the reserved property of the government. This act also stipulates a compensatory measure to be undertaken when any reserved forest is allocated to non-forest purposes.
The Water Prevention and Control of Pollution Act of 1977 was introduced to avert water pollution from agricultural, industrial, and domestic waste. The act also governs the cess imposed on water consumption.
The Wildlife Protection Act of 2002 was enacted to safeguard wildlife within India’s borders. This act has three primary objectives – First, to create uniform legislation for wildlife. Second, to establish a network of national parks and wildlife sanctuaries. Third, to manage the illegal trade of wildlife and its products.
The Biological Diversity Act of 2002 was enacted for the conservation and sustainable utilization of biodiversity within the country. This act assists in moving India closer to the goal of achieving equitable sharing of its biodiversity
WHAT ARE THE MOST PREVELANT INSTRUMENTS IN CLIMATE LAWS AND POLICIES ?
To meet their objectives, climate laws depend on the establishment of policy ‘instruments’ or ‘tools’ that can be broadly categorized into five groups:
- Regulations establish standards and norms that compel actors to embrace specific behaviours while forbidding others. These encompass requirements to report emissions, moratoriums and prohibitions on fossil fuel production or usage (e. g. Spain), and spatial planning regulations.
- Economic incentives are designed to redirect demand towards sustainable alternatives. Governments might implement subsidies or carbon pricing (e. g. Chile), or create climate finance mechanisms (e. g. EU).
- Direct investment by governmental entities may be undertaken where economic incentives prove inadequate, and could focus on, for instance, nature-based solutions and ecosystem restoration (e. g. Georgia), or disaster early warning systems (e. g. Cambodia).
- Information tools aim to enhance education and awareness regarding climate change challenges, bolster research and development initiatives, and improve transparency so that individuals and consumers understand the climate consequences of certain policies and products.
- Governance measures are intended to strengthen institutions’ capacity to address climate change. This includes assigning new duties to existing organizations, forming new agencies, creating governance plans and strategies, and implementing Monitoring, Reporting and Verification requirements in compliance frameworks. Processes that involve collaboration among international stakeholders, subnational governmental levels, and citizens are also crucial for a variety of climate initiatives.
GREENHOUSE GASES
Climate change signifies long-term alterations in temperatures and weather patterns. Such alterations can be natural, resulting from variations in the sun’s activity or significant volcanic eruptions. However, since the 1800s, human actions have been the primary cause of climate change, chiefly due to the combustion of fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and gas.
Combustion of fossil fuels produces greenhouse gas emissions that function like a blanket encircling the Earth, retaining the sun’s heat and elevating temperatures.
There are several fundamental well-established scientific connections:
- The level of GHGs in the earth’s atmosphere is directly correlated with the average global temperature on Earth.
- The level has been consistently increasing, along with mean global temperatures, since the onset of the Industrial Revolution.
- The most prevalent GHG, representing approximately two-thirds of GHGs, carbon dioxide (CO2), arises mainly from the burning of fossil fuels.
UNITED NATION FRAMEWORK CONVENTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE
The UN family is leading the charge in protecting our planet. In 1992, its “Earth Summit” led to the establishment of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) as a preliminary measure in tackling the climate change issue. Currently, it has nearly universal membership. The 197 countries that have ratified the Convention are classified as Parties to the Convention. The ultimate goal of the Convention is to avert “dangerous” human interference with the climate system.
KYOTO PROTOCOL
By 1995, nations commenced negotiations to enhance the collective response to climate change, leading to the adoption of the Kyoto Protocol two years later. The Kyoto Protocol obligates developed country Parties to adhere to emission reduction targets. The initial commitment period of the Protocol commenced in 2008 and concluded in 2012. The subsequent commitment period started on 1 January 2013 and finished in 2020. There are presently 198 Parties to the Convention and 192 Parties to the Kyoto Protocol.
PARIS AGREEMENT
At the 21st Conference of the Parties in Paris in 2015, Parties to the UNFCCC made a historic agreement to address climate change and to fast-track and enhance the actions and investments required for a sustainable low carbon future. The Paris Agreement is founded on the Convention and – for the first time – unites all nations in a collective effort to undertake ambitious initiatives to combat climate change and adapt to its impacts, with increased support to help developing countries achieve this. Therefore, it sets a new direction in the global climate endeavour. The primary objective of the Paris Agreement is to fortify the global response to the dangers of climate change by ensuring that the global temperature rise this century remains significantly below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and to strive for efforts to limit the temperature increase even more to 1. 5 degrees Celsius.
On Earth Day, 22 April 2016, 175 world leaders endorsed the Paris Agreement at United Nations Headquarters in New York. This represented the largest number of nations ever to sign an international agreement on a single day. Currently, there are 194 nations that have ratified the Paris Agreement.
NOBLE PEACE PRIZE
In 2007, the Nobel Peace Prize was granted jointly to former United States Vice-President Al Gore and the IPCC “for their efforts to enhance and spread greater awareness regarding human-induced climate change, as well as to establish the groundwork for the actions required to combat such change. “
CONCLUSION
Climate change laws and policies are essential for reducing the dangers of global warming and its effects, yet they also create obstacles and limitations. To protect the environment from these impacts of climate changes we should follow the laws and policies made by government or UNFCC also keep these key considerations in mind and act accordingly. Those key considerations are :
International Cooperation: Climate change is a worldwide issue, necessitating coordinated efforts among countries. International agreements, such as the Paris Agreement, offer a framework for joint action, but their effectiveness relies on the willingness of nations to fulfil their obligations.
Technological Advancement: Technological innovation is crucial for creating and executing climate solutions, including renewable energy, carbon capture, and sustainable agriculture. Policymakers must encourage and facilitate research and development in these fields.
Political Will and Sustainability: Consistent political will is vital for upholding long-term commitments to climate initiatives. Policies must be flexible and responsive to new scientific discoveries, altering economic conditions, and social priorities. The long-term effectiveness of climate policies is tied to their capacity to align with other developmental objectives and ensure a just and equitable transition.
Social and Economic Impacts: Climate policies can lead to considerable social and economic effects, including shifts in energy consumption, industrial practices, and consumer habits. It is crucial to tackle potential distributional impacts and guarantee that the advantages of climate action are enjoyed by everyone.
Adaptation and Resilience: While mitigation strategies concentrate on lowering emissions, adaptation measures are essential to handle the inevitable repercussions of climate change. Constructing resilient infrastructure, managing water resources, and aiding vulnerable communities are fundamental for responding to a changing climate.
