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The Vice President of India, Venkaiah Naidu today said environmental regulations should not be strangulating but should act as guiding principles for the people.

 He was speaking at the inaugural session of the International Conference on Environmental Diversity and Environmental Jurisprudence, 2022 at Chandigarh University as the chief guest. 

As the Chief Guest at the International Conference on Environmental Diversity and Environmental Jurisprudence, 2022, the Vice President of India said that the message of the conference is “Change of Mindset”, considering that the nation has enough laws and that what is actually required is to respect nature and work as one people for the environment. 
He said, “Unless this environmental protection becomes a people's movement, worldwide, the future is very bleak." 
The Vice President said that respecting nature was a part of Indian culture and a way of life, however as the world started neglecting nature, it is reaping adverse effects. He said that the duty of protecting the environment is not just that of government's but of every citizen of a nation and of every human being.

The Vice President quoted Shloka 34 of Atharva Veda,

“Whatever I may dig from thee, O Earth, may that have quick recovery again. O purifier, May we not injure thy vitals or thy heart."
He said that the Shloka speaks of calls for conserving natural resources, warns against excessive exploitation and seeks forgiveness from Mother Earth. He noted that in the same spirit, the constitution of India also calls for environmental protection in the fundamental duties and in the directive principles.

He said that the radical changes in the climate clearly shows that, "we have to do something and without any delay." 

While noting that India was not historically responsible for today's situation the Vice President said, “Depite being a developing nation, India is not a big contributor to climate change. We have 17% of the world's population we contribute 5% of the world's pollution." He said this is however not a consolation and that India is taking all the steps that are required to bring down pollution.

 He said the right outlook for environmental protection is to look at human existence as a part of natural environment and not as one that exploits it. The Vice President praised the active role taken by Supreme Court and High Court in not only delivering judgments to uphold environmental justice but also encouraging public discourse on the topic. 

Speaking of the importance roles that lower courts must play in environmental protection, the Vice President said "the lower courts must uphold the eco-centric view and keep the best interest of the local population and bio diversity in their judgments." 
The Vice President highlighted that the lower courts must act against the violators of the environmental laws and consider strict enforcement of the same. He said "honesty at every level is also required for this, mere passing of laws or pronouncement by the judiciary is not going to solve the problem. Strict implementation and action against the violators is very much required." 

Praising the role played by National Green Tribunal in protecting the environment, the Vice President called for more lawyers to be trained in this field of law and increase of benches in the tribunal so that environmental justice is brought closer to the people. He also called for the law makers to bring about legislations that maintain a fine balance between ecology and economy. 

The Vice President also called for empowering the Pollution Control Board and other similarly place bodies to implement environmental laws effectively. He further said that local bodies like Gram Panchayat should ensure that the people participate in activities pertaining to protection of environment. 

Other dignitaries who attended the inaugural session included Supreme Court judges Justice Surya Kant, Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai, Chief Justice of Himachal Pradesh High Court Justice Mohammad Rafiq, former Chairperson of the National Green Tribunal Justice Swatanter Kumar (Retd.), UN Resident Coordinator of India Mr. Shombi Sharp, Judge at National High Court of Brazil Justice Antonio Herman Benjamin and Governor of Punjab, Tamil Nadu & Administrator U.T., Chandigarh Banwarilal Purohit.

The two day conference is being organised to emphasize on understanding and analyzing the potentials and threats faced by bio-diversity and to attain environmental Justice through sound regulatory mechanisms.

This year's theme takes on the sustainable use of bio-diversity to assist Nation's growth while maintaining eco-system wellness and environmental Justice.

The conference also aims to sensitizing youth, professionals, social workers, community members, and people from all walks of life about Environmental Diversity and Environmental Jurisprudence as the need of the hour.