Highlights of RPNLU's International Conference on Law, Technology and Sustainable Development

The Dr. Rajendra Prasad National Law University, Praygraj (RPNLU) recently hosted a three-day International Conference on Law, Technology, and Sustainable Development from March 7 to 9, 2025.

The three-day conference brought together distinguished judges, legal scholars, policymakers, academicians, and industry experts from twelve countries, namely US, Canada, England, France, Estonia, New Zealand, South Korea, South Africa, Nigeria, Nepal, Bhutan, and Sri Lanka to deliberate on global challenges and opportunities in legal and technological landscapes.

The discussions revolved around climate change, environmental jurisprudence, Artificial Intelligence, data protection, access to justice, and the role of indigenous knowledge in sustainability.

The dignitaries included 14 judges and over 20 academicians, who held various technical sessions which facilitated meaningful exchanges and policy recommendations aimed at shaping the future of law and sustainability in an increasingly digital world.

Supreme Court judge, Justice Manoj Misra was the Chief Guest for the event. In his address, Justice Misra emphasized that the true challenge is not the development of technology itself but the formulation of policies that ensure its ethical and sustainable application. He called for global cooperation in sustainable development, stressing that while numerous international treaties exist, compliance remains a formidable challenge. He reaffirmed that sustainable development is not confined to national policies but is a global responsibility requiring collective action.

Also present at the event was Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court, Justice Arun Bhansali, who gave the presidential address.

Chief Justice Bhansali asserted that legal mechanisms must balance economic growth with ecological preservation. He cautioned against the unintended consequences of technological advancements, such as cybersecurity threats, digital exploitation, and data privacy concerns, while calling for a nuanced legal approach that safeguards societal interests while promoting innovation.

Other dignitaries who attended the event included Allahabad High Court judge, Justice Manoj Kumar Gupta who underscored the judiciary’s pivotal role in shaping sustainable policies; Vice-Chancellor, RPNLU, Senior Prof (Dr) Usha Tandon; Judge of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka, Justice S Thurairaja; and Judge of the Supreme Court of Nepal, Justice Kumar Regmi; Former Judge of the Supreme Court of Bhutan and Vice-President Bar Council of Bhutan, Justice Rinzin Penjor.

Senior Prof (Dr) Usha Tandon highlighted the transformative impact of technology on law and governance, asserting that while technological advancements offer solutions to global challenges such as climate change, they also introduce complex ethical and legal dilemmas. She underscored the imperative of legal frameworks evolving in tandem with technological progress and expressed immense pride in RPNLU's rapid strides in legal academia.

Justice Rinzin Penjor elaborated on Bhutan's commitment to sustainability through its Gross National Happiness philosophy which integrates environmental stewardship with human development.

Justice S Thurairaja emphasized the critical role of legal frameworks in preventing technology-driven exploitation, while Justice Kumar Regmi highlighted the need for equitable access to technology to prevent socio-economic disparities.

A key highlight of the session was the release of the Conference Souvenir, which encapsulated scholarly contributions on the intersection of law, technology, and sustainability. Furthermore, the winners of the National Moot Court Competition held at Bihar and Madhya Pradesh were honoured with prestigious awards, recognizing their exceptional legal reasoning and advocacy skills.

Panel Discussions held on rising global challenges, sustainable development, indigenous knowledge and more

The event also featured panel discussions, the first technical session being chaired by Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra of the Allahabad High Court.

Justice Mishra emphasized the critical role of intellectual leadership in navigating contemporary global challenges. He stressed that legal frameworks must evolve to integrate technological advancements while upholding justice, fairness, and equity. The rise of AI and blockchain, he noted, raised pressing concerns about data privacy and cybersecurity, necessitating robust legal frameworks to address these issues. Justice Mishra reiterated that sustainable development is not merely aspirational but an urgent necessity, requiring a holistic approach to harmonize economic growth with social well-being.

Prof Klaus Bosselmann of the Faculty of Law, University of Auckland, New Zealand gave the keynote address, titled 'The Earth System Approach to International Environmental Law', in which he underscored the moral and legal obligation to protect Earth's integrity.

He emphasized the necessity of a collective and collaborative approach and referred to Mahatma Gandhi's idea of trusteeship, advocating for global responsibility in environmental protection. He pointed out that while over 150 countries, including India, recognize environmental protection as a constitutional obligation, many states fail to uphold their commitments under international environmental agreements like the Paris Accord.

Justice Rinzin Penzor reflected on Bhutan’s sustainable development journey, emphasizing the role of technology in addressing systemic challenges. He noted Bhutan’s efforts to implement e-litigation systems despite infrastructural and cybersecurity challenges. He argued that political leadership and financial commitment are essential for digital justice systems to thrive

Professor Amber Pant of University of Tribhuvan, Nepal, discussed Nepal's approach to SDGs, highlighting the interplay between social, economic, and environmental factors. He advocated for a more concrete definition of sustainable development and emphasized Nepal's constitutional provisions supporting environmental sustainability.

In his concluding remarks, Justice Mishra advised students to develop a holistic understanding of law by balancing theoretical knowledge with real-world challenges. He encouraged intellectual curiosity and emphasized that the discussions in academic forums shape the future of legal and environmental mechanisms that promote equity, balance and intergenerational justice.

The second technical session was chaired by Allahabad High Court judge, Justice Vinod Diwaker, who elaborated on the potential consequences of environmental degradation, emphasizing that failure to regulate and enforce environmental laws could lead to large-scale displacement of populations worldwide. Referring to the judiciary’s pivotal role in climate governance, he noted that the responsibility for safeguarding future generations rests significantly on the courts.

Former Judge, Hawaii Supreme Court, Justice Michael D Wilson delivered the keynote address for the second session on 'Judicial Guardianship of Climate Justice: The Pivotal Role of Courts in Ensuring Environmental Rights with a Focus on Hawaii'.

He delineated the pressing realities of climate change, particularly its severe impact on Hawaii, where rising sea levels are eroding beaches and exacerbating economic vulnerabilities, triggering widespread 'climate anxiety. Extending this discussion to India, he asserted that climate change is neither a political nor an economic issue but an existential crisis requiring immediate legal intervention.

Citing Antonio Guterres, he warned that since 2015, humanity has been on a 'highway to climate hell'. Justice Wilson added,

"Environmental protection is a fundamental right and legal institutions must leverage the rule of law to enforce sustainable policies."

He critiqued the prevalent governmental stance that sustainability is financially unfeasible, calling such justifications duplicitous and unresponsive.

A special session was also delivered by Supreme Court judge, Justice Rajesh Bindal, who commended RPNLU for appointing its first female Vice-Chancellor, a step towards gender inclusivity in legal academia. Justice Bindal emphasized the critical intersection of technology and sustainable development, asserting that legal frameworks must enforce responsible resource utilization.

He elaborated on the three pillars of sustainability—environmental, social, and economic—drawing on international commitments such as the 1997 Earth Summit, Johannesburg Declaration, Rio+20, and the 2030 Agenda. He also expressed concern that by 2024, only 15 per cent of sustainability goals were fully on track.

He went on to refer to India’s G20 leadership and the concept of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam. He addressed the judiciary’s modernization, citing live-streamed proceedings, e-filing systems, and the management of over 5.20 crore pending cases. Concluding his address, Justice Bindal expressed gratitude to RPNLU, emphasizing that sustainable development, driven by law and technology, requires a collective global effort.

The third technical session was chaired by Allahabad High Court Judge, Justice Ajay Bhanot who emphasized that knowledge emerges from intellectual exchanges. He underscored the criticality of discourse between academics and practitioners in an era of rapid technological advancements.

The keynote address was given by Professor at Soongsil University, South Korea, Moon-Hyun Koh, who examined Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) as a facet of ESG compliance, tracing Korea’s evolving CCUS policies under global climate agreements. He analysed the Korean CCUS Act 2024, its regulatory framework, and challenges, notably public engagement and environmental concerns. He concluded that successful implementation requires transparency, stakeholder participation, and the adoption of global best practices.

The fourth technical session was graced by Allahabad High Court Judge, Justice Arun Kumar Singh Deshwal. He underscored the intricate interplay between law, technology, and sustainable development. He referred to the 1987 Brundtland Report, defining it as meeting present needs without compromising future generations.

The keynote address for this session was given by Dr Ivano Alogna, Senior Research Fellow in Environmental and Climate Change Law, BIICL, France, who talked about the Role of Science in Climate Litigation Cases.

He took note of the increasing reliance on scientific evidence in legal battles against climate change. He examined landmark cases such as Lliuya v. RWE, where a Peruvian farmer sued a German energy firm for glacier melting, setting a precedent for transnational climate liability.

Dr Alogna concluded that courts are increasingly recognizing proportional responsibility, holding corporations accountable based on their share of emissions rather than absolute proof of harm.

The second keynote speaker for the session, Senior Prof (Dr) Usha Tandon, delivered a lecture on 'Optimizing Technology to Enhance Renewable Energy (RE) Development in India: A Reconnaissance Legal Study'.

She emphasized the pivotal role of renewable energy (RE) in sustainable development, citing its environmental, economic, and social benefits.

She noted that despite India’s growing RE sector, a dedicated legal framework governing RE remaining absent. Although judicial interventions, such as that in the case of Hindustan Zinc Ltd v Rajasthan Electricity Regulatory Commission, have shaped the legal landscape, challenges still remain. Dr. Tandon concluded by advocating for a comprehensive RE law to provide legal certainty and promote sustainable energy transitions in India.

The fifth technical session was chaired by Allahabad High Court judge, Justice Salil Kumar Rai, who encouraged students to actively engage with the discourse, recognizing it as a valuable platform to broaden their understanding of environmental challenges and legal frameworks.

The keynote address by Prof Jonathan O Chimakonam, University of Pretoria, South Africa, provided an insightful analysis of the complex relationship between climate change, greenhouse gas emissions, and food security. He identified carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide as primary contributors to climate change, emphasizing their role in intensifying environmental instability through droughts, floods, and other natural disasters. While industrialization and technological advancements propel economic development, they also contribute significantly to environmental degradation. He explained that pollutants disrupt ecological balance when their concentrations exceed natural thresholds due to human activities.

The sixth session was chaired by Allahabad High Court judge, Justice Shekhar B Saraf. In his address, he emphasized,

“Technology is not just an instrument of growth but also a disruptor.”

He also acknowledged the challenges faced by students, particularly being part of an early batch without an established campus or a strong alumni network.

Dr Erimma Gloria Orie, in her keynote address on the theme, 'Exploring the Intersection of Technology and Indigenous People for Sustainable Development: The Way Forward', explored the potential of integrating indigenous knowledge with modern technological advancements to achieve sustainable development. She emphasized that indigenous peoples hold vast environmental knowledge, which has been recognized in global frameworks such as Agenda 21, UNFCCC, and the World Bank Report.

Dr Orie identified key challenges in indigenous knowledge integration, such as the absence of legal recognition, the perception of indigenous knowledge as 'outdated', and the technological divide. She called for policies that recognize indigenous communities as key stakeholders and support the systematic documentation and integration of indigenous knowledge with scientific methodologies. A legally inclusive and culturally sensitive approach, she argued, is imperative to ensuring that indigenous knowledge meaningfully contributes to sustainability efforts.

Prof Philippe Cullet, in his paper 'Indigenous Ecological Knowledge and the Law – Uncovering its Modernity', challenged the conventional notion that modernity is exclusively linked to economic and technological advancements.

He critiqued the failure of sustainable development policies to curb the ongoing environmental 'polycrisis', characterized by climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. He advocated for the 'Rights of Nature' model, which prioritizes ecological protection over economic growth and shifts decision-making from state-led, expert-driven mechanisms to community-centred approaches. Prof Cullet concluded that Indigenous Ecological Knowledge must be recognized as a modern and integral component of environmental governance, necessitating legal reforms that integrate Indigenous perspectives into sustainability policies.

The seventh technical session was chaired by Allahabad High Court Judge, Justice Saumitra Dayal Singh, who emphasized the inevitable role of AI in contemporary legal discourse, acknowledging both scepticism and acceptance surrounding its integration.

Justice Singh underscored the traditional reliance on specialized human knowledge in the legal profession, which often led to unexpected intellectual discoveries.

Nitin Nanda, an international lawyer specializing in corporate structuring and taxation in Estonia, provided a pragmatic perspective on the role of AI and technology. He emphasized that technology is merely a tool with the potential for both use and misuse. Delving into the concept of a conscious AI, he cited cases such as Google Maps autonomously removing data and highlighted concerns over private data leaks.

He referred to global data protection regulations, including the Digital Personal Data Protection Act (DPDP Act) and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), critiquing India’s inadequate enforcement mechanisms. He also discussed Aadhaar biometrics data breaches and the Ashley Madison case, advocating for AI-driven encryption technologies to bolster data security. Additionally, he engaged the audience in a discussion on blockchain regulations, urging students to explore the legal framework governing emerging technologies.

Dr Robert Russo delivered an address on legal ethics and the practical implications of AI-assisted decision-making in environmental law. He underscored that AI is reshaping multiple sectors, necessitating specialized regulatory frameworks, particularly in environmental governance. Raising concerns about AI-induced biases, he identified gender and socio-economic biases as critical challenges that require robust safeguards. He asserted that AI, while capable of processing vast datasets—including environmental reports, climate models, and economic analyses—should never substitute human judicial discretion.

Addressing privacy concerns, he cautioned against excessive data collection, which could pose significant threats to individual privacy. Dr. Russo concluded that AI should be utilized as a supportive tool rather than an autonomous arbiter, reinforcing the indispensable role of human oversight in legal decision-making.

Supreme Court judge, Justice Pankaj Mithal delivered the valedictory address, in which he highlighted the crucial role of the judiciary in increasing environmental Jurisprudence nowadays, focusing on topics like biomedical waste, illegal mining, land degradation, deforestation, air and noise pollution.

He highlighted improved accessibility for women and persons with disabilities is a result of technology in the judiciary. While commending RPNLU for fostering international legal discourse and promoting forward-thinking policy solutions, he asserted,

“Law Schools are the cradle of legal thought thus it is necessary for lawyers to learn about the inclusion of sensitivity to environment with the upcoming policies.”

He congratulated the organisers for conducting a successful three-day event and also appreciated the RPNLU’s speedy resolve to address the issues of emerging technologies in line with gender rights, ecology, etc.

He iterated that creating equal opportunities with innovation is key for sustainable development. Justice Mithal concluded his insightful address by asserting,

“The progress must be balanced, and we must consider the interconnection between climate change and evolving law. Legal profession stands as the pillar in creating an environmentally harmonious society. Our contribution today will lay the foundation for a better tomorrow.”

Other distinguished guests who were present for the event included Director, MNNIT, Prayagraj, Prof Rama Shanker Verma; Vice-Chancellor and NLIU, Bhopal, Prof (Dr) S Surya Prakash.

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