Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh today said India is prepared to lead global “planetary stewardship” and called for a worldwide coalition to tackle climate change, environmental degradation, emerging technologies and planetary governance.
Speaking at a panel discussion on “Climate Justice and Planetary Stewardship” during the 26th International Conference of Chief Justices of the World, Dr Jitendra Singh said judges today play a pivotal role at the intersection of law, science and moral responsibility.
He noted that the world faces “interconnected crises” — climate change, pandemics, cyber threats, ocean degradation and rapid technological disruption — which demand global legal frameworks based on equity and intergenerational justice.
Highlighting India’s major scientific missions under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, including the Deep Ocean Mission, National Quantum Mission, cybersecurity, biotechnology, AI and space reforms, he said these initiatives position India to contribute meaningfully to global governance.
Dr Singh said courts worldwide will increasingly face complex issues such as space debris, deep-ocean mining, climate accountability and AI ethics. He urged updating global legal frameworks for oceans and outer space, stressing that decisions taken today will shape the lives of future generations.
Calling for a Planetary Common Framework to safeguard shared resources, he warned of risks like illegal mining on the moon and unregulated deep-ocean exploitation. He noted that litigation is emerging as a key tool for accountability in environmental matters.
The Minister praised the role of jurists in advancing climate justice and called for stronger global judicial cooperation, stating that judges are now “custodians of humanity’s shared future.”
He thanked the organisers at City Montessori School (CMS), Lucknow, and expressed confidence that the conference would inspire greater global collaboration for climate justice and sustainable planetary governance.(KINS)
