At a time when the world is facing unprecedented environmental challenges—from climate change and biodiversity loss to hazardous waste and air pollution—understanding the legal and policy framework that governs environmental protection becomes more important than ever. It is in this critical context that the book Eco-Constitution: Navigating Environmental Law & Sustainable Development in India by Dr. Koyel Roy and Jayant Kumar Sahoo makes a timely and impactful entry into the scholarly and public discourse.
This book is not merely an academic resource; it is a comprehensive, analytical, and visionary work that aims to bridge the gap between environmental law and sustainable development in the Indian context. Through four carefully structured parts, the authors have crafted a multidimensional exploration of the country’s evolving environmental governance.
Part I lays the foundation by tracing the evolution of environmental law in India, highlighting the constitutional provisions that empower the state and the citizenry to protect and preserve nature. This section also explores the role of judicial activism, which has been a driving force behind landmark environmental rulings, such as the interpretation of the “Right to Life” under Article 21 to include the right to a clean and healthy environment.
Part II delves into contemporary challenges like climate change, pollution, waste management, and biodiversity loss, examining the operational and governance mechanisms India has adopted to address them. Importantly, it also discusses the growing global shift towards ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) standards, and how Indian industries and lawmakers are responding to the same.
Part III places India within the international environmental framework, aligning its efforts with Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It offers critical insights into Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) and India’s role in global climate negotiations. This segment reinforces the idea that environmental sustainability is no longer a national concern but a shared global responsibility.
Part IV brings a futuristic and forward-thinking lens to the discourse, discussing how Artificial Intelligence, green technologies, and policy innovations can play a transformative role in environmental governance. The authors explore how these tools can be harnessed to monitor pollution, predict climate events, and make data-driven decisions for policy reform.
Dr. Koyel Roy is an accomplished legal academician currently serving as Assistant Professor at Arka Jain University, Jharkhand. With a strong academic foundation and a Ph.D. in Law, she has expertise in corporate law, constitutional law, and environmental jurisprudence. Her academic journey, marked by numerous accolades and top ranks, underscores her dedication to excellence and legal scholarship.
Jayant Kumar Sahoo, her co-author, brings rich academic and practical experience in the fields of Management and Sustainable Development. Also an Assistant Professor at Arka Jain University, he integrates management theories with real-world challenges, especially in the environmental and corporate governance spaces.
Eco-Constitution is a must-read for students, researchers, legal practitioners, policymakers, and anyone interested in understanding the complex interface between law, nature, and sustainable development. With scholarly depth, practical insight, and futuristic vision, this book is destined to make a lasting impact on India’s environmental discourse.