Climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events such as heat waves, droughts, floods and tropical cyclones, aggravating water management problems, reducing agricultural production and food security, increasing health risks, damaging critical infrastructure and interrupting the provision of basic services such water and sanitation, education, energy and transport.
Climate change is a real and undeniable threat to our entire civilization.The effects are already visible and will be catastrophic unless we act now. Through education, innovation and adherence to our climate commitments, we can make the necessary changes to protect the planet. These changes also provide huge opportunities to modernize our infrastructure which will create new jobs and promote greater prosperity across the globe.
At JGU, we believe that universities play a vital role in combating climate change. Our talented community of academicians, administration and students must nurture and enrich the environment that sustains us through stewardship, outreach and dissemination of knowledge in the local communities. We understand that our choices in energy sources, raw material procurement, operational standards, are all factors that contribute to the greenhouse gas emissions our campus produces. It is our goal to develop alternative solutions to become leaders in innovation to significantly reduce GHG emissions for a healthier future for all internal and external stakeholders.
View: Climate Action Policy
Techlimate Policy Case Competition
The competition is a collaborative effort of Policy Corner JSGP and Hertie School of Governance, Berlin.
Theme: Harnessing Technology and Artificial Intelligence for Climate Governance and Sustainable Development Goal 13 For more information visit: www.policycornerjsgp.org/copy-of-hertie-school-event.
The primary source of renewable energy at JGU are photovoltaic systems for onsite electricity generation. The solar power system is placed on building rooftops as a part of our net-zero energy building goal. The use of renewable energy reduced reliance power generation through fossil fuels. JGU is committed to improving our renewable energy portfolio
Number of existing on-campus sites with rooftop solar panels: Number of additional on-campus sites with rooftop solar panels under construction:
Low-power energy generation tracking targets several UN SDG targets including:
Target 3.9: By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination
Target 7.2: By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix
Target 7.b: By 2030, expand infrastructure and upgrade technology for supplying modern and sustainable energy services for all in developing countries, in particular least developed countries, small island developing States, and land-locked developing countries, in accordance with their respective programmes of support
Target 11.6: By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management
Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning
Webinar on ‘Climate Change Induced Migration: Practices from Around the World’ by the Centre for Environmental Law and Climate Change
The Final Stand Orientation
TFS is a student-run climate change mitigation law, policy, and advocacy initiative at O.P. Jindal Global University under the mentorship of Justice Michael D. Wilson of the Supreme Court of Hawaii. TFS members are determined to bring legislative change in India to reduce our carbon footprint and develop a social consciousness regarding climate change. The orientation for the 2024-2025 academic year unveiled how students can become a vital part of our climate change law and policy initiative.
In June 2024, the Office of Sustainability at JGU released a comprehensive Climate Action Plan as part of the annual Sustainable Development Report.
WCDM-DRR Award 2022 for disaster management and risk reduction
O.P. Jindal Global University (JGU) has been honoured with the World Congress on Disaster Management – Disaster Risk Reduction (WCDM-DRR) Award 2022 for its significant contribution in the field of disaster management and disaster risk reduction. The awards were presented by G. Kishan Reddy, Union minister of tourism, culture and development of north-eastern region of India. Increasing risk of disasters and persistent adverse impact of disasters on the lives, livelihoods, economy and environment have posed serious threats to sustainable development.
C. Raj Kumar, founding vice-chancellor of O.P. Jindal Global University and professor said, “JGU’s efforts towards disaster management and sustainable development have resulted in the prestigious DRR award. The award showcases our commitment to creating a world based on sustainable development and having graduates who are sensitised to the most pressing challenges that the world faces today, including such key concerns as climate change. The award speaks volumes about this young university’s endeavours towards a healthier and safer environment by implementing the ‘sustainable development goals’. JGU released a first-of-its-kind implementing the Sustainable Development Goals: Role of Universities and Civil Society in Protecting the Environment Report, mapping its compliance towards the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations. Setting a global benchmark, JGU has become one of the first universities to fully commit to and implement the SDGs on its campus, despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Speaking on the recognition, Dabiru Sridhar Patnaik, professor and registrar of JGU said, “India is among the most vulnerable countries with respect to climate change, according to the Global Climate Risk Index Report 2021. In recent years, disasters have become frequent across the country. The world is facing one of the worst pandemics in a hundred years, and given the severe impact on economic and social development, it is imperative to build resilience to disasters through teaching, research, and capacity building. Therefore, at JGU, we are also offering courses on humanitarian assistance and disaster relief in complex security environments; environmental hazards and disaster resilience.”
Research on climate change impacts on refugees and biodiversity
The Centre for Environmental Law and Climate Change (CELCC) has the vision to educate, equip and raise awareness about environmental legal issues, including justice considerations. It focuses on research on contemporary legal challenges involving the environment and climate change and aims to advocate for environmental protection, conservation, preservation and regeneration. Further, it seeks to enhance law and policy consciousness through collaborative actions involving students, the community and faculty through discussion, exchange of ideas, collaborative learning and research.
CELCC aims to promote theme-based research, learning and dissemination on current challenges and understanding of the same within environmental, natural resources and climate justice laws in existence and attempts to address the gaps within law and policy.
The following themes remain the focus;
Preparing future legal professionals to tackle climate change challenges
WWF-India and O.P. Jindal Global University (Jindal Global Law School) have jointly launched India’s first LL.M. Programme in Environmental Law, Energy and Climate Change. With a more ecologically and socially conscious milieu; it is essential to minimize the adverse impacts of pollution and ecological degradation through proper environmental management and international cooperation. This can be done by not just raising awareness of environmental values but also strengthening the delivery capacity of environmental professionals so that they are well equipped to face the challenges in their stream of work.
Environment is defined in the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 as that which ‘includes water, air and land and the inter-relationship which exists amongst and between water, air and land and human beings, other living creatures, plants, micro-organisms and property.’ Environmental Law, thus, encompasses a wide spectrum of different forms of ‘life’ and its inter-play with the natural conditions and surroundings. It has within its purview control and correction of environmental pollution. Environmental pollution, negative fallout of rapid industrialization, urbanization, and now globalization, is sought to be protected in a proactive manner through preventive measures and in case of damage to be compensated through remedial measures. The journey through ages diluted the reverential aspect of the environment and brought in gradual exploitation of nature that became more pervasive and systematic, especially, in the aftermath of the industrial revolution and the new nuclear age of the 21st Century. It is during this phase that humanity transitioned from living in a small world on a large planet to inhabiting a large world on a small planet.
In order to tackle and find conservation recourse, one must strengthen the human resource pool by creating efficient environmental lawyers. In this context, Centre for Environmental Law (CEL), WWF-India in collaboration with Centre for Post Graduate Legal Studies (CGPLS), O.P. Jindal Global University (JGU) proposes to launch an Academic Programme titled ‘L.L.M. in Environmental Law, Energy and Climate Change’. The Programme covers numerous important subjects such as analyzing alternate energy solutions, available technical knowledge in the field of environment, energy and climate change and how innovations in the field are best implemented. It expands on the role and impact of domestic and international adjudicatory mechanisms on environment, energy and climate change with special reference to a critical examination and assessment of the functioning of the national environmental courts and tribunals. L.L.M. in Environmental Law, Energy and Climate Change is the first of its kind to be taught in India
Volume 5, Issue I of CIDS (Journal of Conversations in Development Studies), a peer-reviewed Quarterly Journal of CNES
All journal editions are accessible from the CIDS Website
Web Link to Edition on “Geopolitics of Renewable Energy: Energy Security Issues & Green Political Thought” here
The CIDS team interviewed Mrs. Vibhuti Garg, IEEFA Director, South Asia to understand the complex nature of energy security issues, plaguing India and contextualise them against the backdrop of the current global geopolitical landscape, and Ms. Lydia Powell, People Expert and Distinguished Fellow, Observer Research Foundation to understand energy security issues in the context of the post-pandemic economy and the Russia-Ukraine war.
In his interview for the current journal edition, Dr. Manu V. Mathai, Head of Research, Data and Innovation, World Resources Institute, India & Visiting Faculty, Azim Premji University emphasised on the disadvantageous geographical position of India in terms of energy access and explained the nature of India’s dependence on energy imports.
CIDS interviewed Ms. Shuva Raha, Head, New Initiatives, Council on Energy, Environment and Water to discuss the role of the USA in the climate change action.
Despite the USA projecting its position as a global leader, it has had a limited role in the global fight against climate change, and to delve into the significance of COP26, we interviewed Dr. Manisha Jian, Assistant Professor, Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research. She argues that rather than focusing on ‘phasing-out’ coal, there must be a focus on phasing-out fossil fuels to make the argument fair.
Dr. Navroz K. Dubash, Professor, Centre for Policy Research in his interview discussed the significance of the COP26 and how the concepts of “phase-out” and “phase-down” arise out of the joint US-China agreement.
Prof. Tridivesh Singh Maini, Assistant Professor – Diplomatic Practice, Jindal School of International Affairs (JSIA) wrote the editorial note for this Issue in which he explores the role of Iran in energy geopolitics and details the role of foreign policy and the significance of geopolitics in the backdrop of the urgent energy security issues faced by India and the larger developing world.
Training program for Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd. officers
Since its inception in 2012, the Jindal Institute of Leadership Development and Executive Education (JILDEE) has drawn upon the best of the intellectual resources available at JGU. In April 2023, a three-day course on ‘Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) – Statutory Norms/Compliances and Practices’ was conducted in collaboration with JGBS for Power Grid Corporation of India Limited officers. Power Grid Corporation of India Limited is an Indian central public sector undertaking under the ownership of the Ministry of Power, Government of India.
World Universities Summit on ‘Universities of the Future: Building Institutional Resilience, Social Responsibility & Community Impact in G20 Countries’
IIHEd, in partnership with the Jindal Global Centre for G20 Studies of JGU, hosted the five-day virtual World Universities Summit on ‘Universities of the Future: Building Institutional Resilience, Social Responsibility & Community Impact in G20 Countries’ in March 2023. The Summit took place against the backdrop of India’s presidency of G20. The event, which brought together 160 leading academics and educational experts from all G20 countries, involved 100 universities, 160 university leaders, 30 plus thematic sessions, and three keynote addresses. It was a rare occasion for such a high-level gathering of academics and experts from G20 countries to discuss issues that directly impact the future of higher education. The inaugural address for the G20 Universities Impact Summit was delivered by Dr. Subhas Sarkar, Hon’ble Minister of State for Education, Government of India. He emphasised the significance of SDGs in India’s National Education Policy and released the Times Higher Education Report titled “Higher Education’s role in advancing the SDGs in the G20: progress and opportunities.” Shri V. Muraleedharan, Hon’ble Minister of State for External Affairs, Government of India, highlighted the relationship between SDGs and education in his presidential address. He urged schools and universities to align academic and professional goals with the world’s SDGs, fostering global citizens concerned about both personal development and planetary well-being.
Memorandum of Understanding signed with HME Waste Management
According to a UN report, India is the world’s fifth largest producer of e-waste, discarding almost 1.7 million tonnes of e-waste in 2014. Almost 95% of the e-waste it produces is either burned or dumped in landfills. With rapid urbanisation, this will only multiply—as will the number of people handling it at considerable risk to their health. Managing waste, ensuring sustainable consumption and a healthy environment, and ensuring just and safe working conditions for waste pickers are urgent challenges. [Source: UNFCCC]
The Office of Sustainability team, in collaboration with student group GAIA, held a 2 day e-waste collection drive to spread awareness on the importance of proper disposal of electronic waste. We have installed two permanent collection points in the campus where people can dispose of their electronic waste, which can then be sent to the authorised e-waste management company we have partnered with.
