Renowned Climate Change Lawyer Jatinder (Jay) Cheema Launches Ground-breaking Book on Climate Policy and Law

Chandigarh, May 11, 2024: “Climate Change – The Policy, Law, and Practice” by Jatinder (Jay) Cheema, Climate Change Lawyer, was launched here today by Justice Gurmeet Singh Sandhawalia, Acting Chief Justice, Punjab and Haryana High Court at the UT Guest House here today.

The book, published by Thomson Reuters, essentially provides its readers with a holistic view on the climate and the challenges it faces, as well as global responses towards finding solutions to arrest the change. The author Jatinder (Jay) Cheema was in conversation with Vivek Atray (Former IAS) at the launch event. Prof. Renu Vig, Vice Chancellor, Panjab University was also present on the occasion.

Leading policymakers, judges, and partners at global law firms have endorsed this book. These include, Dalveer Bhandari, Judge, International Court of Justice, The Haque; Bhupender Yadav, Minister. Labour and Employment, Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India; Ajit Doval, KC, National Security Adviser of India; Amitabh Kant, G-20 Sherpa, Government of India; Justice Dipak Misra, Former Chief Justice of India; Mohamed Nasheed, The Speaker, People’s Majlis, Republic of Maldives; K.K. Venugopal, Former Attorney General of India and Senior Advocate; David Blumental, Partner and Asia Head, Energy and Infrastructure, Simmons & Simmons; and David Leckie, Partner, Clyde & Co.

About the Book

Climate Change is rapidly gaining ground as can be witnessed in the growing number of publications on the subject in the national dailies across the globe. The last ten years have been unsettling as what initially had started as a mere scientific fact is starting to dominate the lives of the humans. This is not limited to only the governments across the globe but also the practices of the private entities. The debate and the consequences of climate change have taken the centre stage over the last 30 years, with rising global temperature and the consequent ecological damage it has unleashed.

Sharing details, Author Jatinder (Jay) Cheema said, “This book is not about environmental laws since several major publications and research papers already exist in this space. This Book is an effort to consolidate all the legal frameworks pertaining to climate change, adaptation, resilience and mitigation, both national and internationally, under one publication which will be of interest to all individuals looking to bring about positive changes on this subject, including policymakers, activists, legal scholars, and practitioners.”

Divided into seven chapters, this Book first explores the phenomenon of climate change before progressing towards understanding and critically analysing the various treaties, protocols and conventions on climate change.

“An entire chapter is dedicated to understanding the position of climate change in India and vice-versa, India’s position on climate change, holistically, i.e. the law, the policy, the practice, the vision and mission. The decisions of the Supreme Court of India, the various High Courts in India, and the National Green Tribunal have been instrumental in shaping the discourse and establishing principles on environmental laws in India, and would be equally important in extending the reach of and shaping the climate change laws in the country, and thus, have been explored in this Book”, he added.

Finance and Technology are the most potent weapons in the hands of mankind for combating climate change. Hence, this Book reconnoitres climate change finance and climate tech. In addition, the book also delves into the paradigms presented by governments in developed and developing nations like the United States of America, Canada, the United Kingdom, the European Union, Japan, South Korea, Brazil, Australia and Saudi Arabia.

“Lastly, this Book provides a comprehensive compilation and compendium of case laws raising climate change issues which have been brought across all continents as well as in international tribunals, and offers a glimpse into a suggestive litigation explosion in the realm of climate change in the near and foreseeable future”, said Cheema.

About the Author

Jatinder (Jay) Cheema has over 30 years of standing at the Bar in India and is also Barrister & Solicitor qualified to practice law in Ontario (Canada), and as Advocate in the SADC Region (Africa). As a lawyer and counsel, he has diversified experience in Energy Laws, Projects, Commercial and Infrastructure Advisory, Litigation and Dispute Resolution. He engages on a regular basis with the regulators and Governments across the globe on various regulatory and policy issues. Till recently, he has been a partner at Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas (New Delhi), and other national and international law firms.

Apart from his professional engagements, Jay is an Adjunct Professor and Speaker. He extensively writes about the developments in Domestic and International Law in law journals, National Dailies and Magazines. He has been recognized as a Notable Practitioner for the year 2018, 2019, and 2020 by IFLR 1000 and awarded by Skoch, India Law Forum for his exemplary service to law in the year 2022.

About the Publisher

Thomson Reuters clarifies today’s complex landscape with AI and technology, deep subject-matter expertise, and content the world has trusted for over 150 years — giving professionals the confidence to know today, navigate tomorrow, and lead a fast-evolving world.

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