Indian Corporations, Climate Change, and The Law

Climate change is one of the biggest problems that humans have created for the whole of mankind. Discussions on combating climate change have been continuing since last 30 years when the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change was adopted at the Rio Conference in 1992. Despite this, nothing significant has been achieved so far. Due to public sector’s finite capabilities and increasing footprint of globalization and privatization, the world is rolling its eyes now on the private corporations to take the lead in this fight against climate change. This article will discuss the historic role that these corporations have played since climate change negotiation days, their contribution at present, and the progressive or regressive role they are set to play in future. The special focus of this article will be on analysing the role of Indian corporations and the existing legal framework governing them and its challenges. At the culmination of this article, the author will try to suggest mechanisms to magnify and intensify private sector contribution in combating climate change with minimum friction and maximum accountability and cohesion.

Sustainable Architecture—What’s Next?

Sustainable architecture encompasses more than energy efficiency, zero carbon dioxide (CO2) emission or renewable energy use in the built environment. It also needs to alleviate overall impacts on the natural environment or ecosystem that surrounds it. It may be argued that primitive vernacular architecture (architecture without architects) built and operated using local techniques and resources alone can be considered to be sustainable. Yet later, after the 1992 Rio Conference and its declarations, more specific definitions emerged putting weight on the rational use of land area, materials and energy, preferably local, as well as area efficient planning, economy and recyclability. The advantage of this is to reduce the ecological footprint of buildings and the climate gas emissions from a sector that represents 35–50 percent of global climate gas emissions, depending on how one counts. This paper clarifies concepts, questions cemented truths and points a way forward by asking; what’s next?

Participatory Management of Tropical Dry Forests in Benin

This chapter encompasses a literature survey and strategic analysis to understand the elaboration and implementation of Participatory Forest Management (PFM) in Benin, with a focus on the case of the “Forêt des Trois Rivières”. By analyzing the historical background of forest management systems in Benin, we highlighted two major turning points. The first relates to the creation and autocratic management of protected forests, which took place from 1940 to 1990. The second change took place after the Rio conference in 1992, and this emphasized the importance of local communities in natural resources management. Moreover, the results of our strategic analysis of stakeholders involved in the specific case of Participatory Forest Management Plan (PFMP) of the “Forêt des Trois Rivières” showed that it is important to emphasize on active community participation while designing a participatory management plan and for decision making at the implementation stage. We also observed that alliances between foresters and timber loggers are likely to hinder the achievement of the PFM objectives.

Progress in Integrated Water Resources Management implementation

Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRW) has made significant strides since its definition following the Rio Conference on Sustainable Development. Part of Sustainable Development Goal 6, the implementation of IWRM is foreseen globally by 2030. Initially, planning water resources in an integrated manner was the focus of most projects/programmes; hence, nowadays most of the efforts are targeted towards its implementation with practical implications for the nations and their populations.

From Stockholm to Rio: Critical Reading of Global Environmental Governance

<p>Global environmental governance is deeply undermined due to the problem of overlapping function and lack of funding. It is then important to trace the history of the construction of global environmental governance as an institution. This article would like to understand the dynamics of global environmental governance from Stockholm Conference in 1972 to Rio Conference in 1992. The changes between Stockholm Conference and Rio Conference will be analyzed using English School theory. English School theory has the potential to critically engage with the taken-for-granted norms and institutions. Pluralism and solidarism as the normative wings of English School can elaborate the key driver of global environmental governance. It is expected that this article can contribute to development of environmental studies of English School theory and the formulation of global environmental governance.</p><p><strong>Keywords</strong>: <em>global environmental governance, English School theory, Rio Conference, Stockholm Conference, sustainable development</em></p>

European Union and Sustainable Development Assessment in the Business Sector

Assessment of sustainable position of selected countries is the important challenge in the last years. The sustainable theory has changed from the years of Rio conference and the availability of statistical resources is becoming better. Sustainable development is an important objective for each country. Enlargement of the EU has brought the current priorities and future direction of EU environmental policy sharply into focus. Enlargement process has increased the standards of environmental protection and social development. Significant environmental investments are necessary and the new members need to speed up their preparation for implementing the Goethenburg strategy “sustainable strategy”. CEE countries and also SEE countries are implementing sustainable development approach through integration process with European Union. So, the national strategies and development programmes are taking sustainability approach with EU documents

European Union and Sustainable Development Indicators

Assessment of sustainable position of selected countries is the important challenge in the last years. The sustainable theory has changed from the years of Rio conference and the availability of statistical resources is becoming better. Sustainable development is an important objective for each country. Enlargement of the EU has brought the current priorities and future direction of EU environmental policy sharply into focus. Enlargement process has increased the standards of environmental protection and social development. Significant environmental investments are necessary and the new members need to speed up their preparation for implementing the Gothenburg strategy “sustainable strategy”.

Reprint and Analysis of ``The Rio Conference : Some Bare Truths’’from Vol. 6

We re-print a note, “The Rio Conference: Some Bare Truths” by Prof. Prakash Gole, which appeared in Vol. 6 (1993) of this journal, along with an analysis as to where the global community stands onenvironmental justice and equity 25 years later.