Law professionals should motivate decision makers to begin global action to protect lives of people who would be affected by climate change, Dr P K Pachauri, Chairman of Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change, appealed on Sunday.
In his convocation address at the 15th convocation of the National Law School of India University in Bangalore, Dr Pachauri said surface temperature has been increasing at an alarming pace at the global level.
In the period between 1995 and 2005 global surface temperature has increased by 20 pc due to concentration of more carbon dioxide. Eleven of the warmest years have occurred in the last 12 years alone.
Increase in sea level due to melting of the body of ice across the globe has already been threatening several small islands and coastal regions.
Delta regions in Asia are vulnerable to coastal flooding.
By the end of 21st century the sea level across the globe would go up by minimum of 18 cms to maximum of 59 cms. This increase would turn lives of crores a disaster, he said.
Despite being aware of impact of climate change there has been no global action to avert the change. So far no penalty has been fixed to penalise those whose actions lead to climate change, he said.
“I do believe people in legal profession can motivate decision makers to bring about certain changes in the existing system to avoid disaster in future”, said Dr Pachauri.
Degrees, medals
Chief Justice of India Justice K G Balakrishna, who is also the chancellor of the university, conferred degrees and medals on passing-out students.
As many as 34 students received LLM degrees, 51 students received degrees in Masters in Business Law, 67 in BALLB, nine in post-graduate diploma in Human Rights Law, seven in diploma in medical law, 13 in diploma in environmental law and 46 students received certificate of
post-graduate diploma in intellectual property rights law.
RANK HOLDERS Speak
Ms Ramya Raghuram and Mr Arun Srikumar secured first and second ranks respectively in BALLB. Ms Raghuram completed her degree with six gold medals, while Mr Srikumar bagged eight gold medals.
Ramya, who completed her studies till II PU in Mysore, has won Rhodes scholarship to study LLM at Oxford University. “I am happy with my performance in the studies. I want to pursue my higher studies in Law”, she said.
However Mr Srikumar has decided to take a break from law studies. “I had an offer from a legal firm in London. But I did not accept it as I wished to pursue higher studies in business administration . I have already found a placement in a business firm, where my job has nothing to do with law. After getting two-year’s experience I will take up MBA course. But I will be in touch with legal profession as I hail from a family of advocates and I have an option of entering legal profession in future”, he said.