Jindal Global Law School (JGLS) in association with WWF-India has launched a Masters Programme in Environmental Law, Energy and Climate Change, an official said on Thursday.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to this effect was signed between the two institutions here on Wednesday in the presence of Supreme Court judges Justices D Y Chandrachud and Deepak Gupta besides two Judges from the Supreme Court of Hawaii, USA, Justices Michael D Wilson and Justice Sabrina McKenna.
The course is open to law graduates who want to develop specialist legal knowledge on national and global environmental issues. The law professionals working in the field of environment will also be benefitted by this programme, the official said.
Speaking on the occasion, Justice Chandrachud termed climate change as an existential threat and the most important issue facing humanity today.
He spoke of the threat posed by water scarcity in India as well as across the world and the extinction of various species due to global warming and the marked increase in natural disasters due to deforestation and climate change that has resulted in environmental refugees.
Speaking about the role of judiciary in environmental justice, he said: "The rule of law in environmental governance is seen as an aid in recognising of environmental injustices faced by vulnerable groups such as indigenous tribes, women and livelihood reliant communities."
Speaking about the new course, Professor C Raj Kumar, Founding Vice Chancellor, JGU said, "The theme of environmental law and climate change is probably the most important issue that universities and law schools should be concerned about."