4th Transnational Meeting on Climate Change Policy and Law Held In Pune

Symbiosis Law School, Pune (SLS Pune), constituent of Symbiosis International (Deemed University) (SIU) is one of the foremost law schools in India and has been ranked as the top 10 best law schools in the country for the sixth consecutive year under the NIRF rankings. 

SLS Pune is spearheading a European EU Erasmus+ KA2 Capacity Building Higher Education (CBHE) Project called the ‘Curricula Development on Climate Change Policy and Law (CCP_Law)’. This assumes significance in the backdrop of India’s presidency of G20, COP compliance, and NEP among others

As a part of the project deliverables, there are physical project meetings, networking meetings, and dissemination that have to be conducted at partner institutions to develop Master of Law and Postgraduate Diploma Programmes on Climate Change Policy and Law which will be conducted in a transnational mode. The previous project meetings were held in Girona, Spain in June 2022 and in Rajkot, India in February 2023. As a part of the project deliverable, the 4th Transnational Project meeting has commenced at Pune- SIU and SLSP from 11^th to 16^th September 2023.

In total 34 delegates from the six partner countries of the consortium consisting of the Coventry University from the United Kingdom, University of Girona from Spain, European Knowledge Spot and Pedmede from Greece, University Utara Malaysia and International Islamic University from Malaysia, Hue University and Hanoi Law University from Vietnam, and the Marwadi University from India are attending the meeting. 

This project meeting includes Networking meetings with the stakeholders, a Regional Round Table, Project Meetings, Workshops, Capacity Building, Training Programs, a Regional Seminar, and cultural visits. 

The first day, i.e. 11^th September, 2023 of the Project meeting was held at Symbiosis Law School, Pune, Viman Nagar Campus. This meeting consists of the inauguration of Symbiosis Climate Change Law & Policy Centre [SCCLPC] at Symbiosis Law School, Pune, Regional Round Table on the Importance and Promotion of Climate Change Law and Policy Curriculum, and the networking event and the press meet. The delegates were traditionally welcomed and after lighting the lamp, delegates were taken to the SLS, Pune campus tour wherein, various sustainability practices undertaken in SLS Pune were shown. 

The delegation attended a special Sadhya Lunch that reflected traditional Indian culture based on sustainability.  After the Lunch, the Regional Round Table on the Importance and Promotion of Climate Change Law and Policy Curriculum was organized. 

The important speakers in the roundtable were Dr. Ajay Deshpande, Former Expert Member, NGT, Mr. Shwetal Shah, Climate Change Expert, Dr. T R Subramanya, Dean Faculty of Law, CMR University, Dr. Prakash Rao – Dy. Director, SIIB; Head SCCCS, SIU, Yogesh Brahmankar, Director, SCEI, SIU. The speakers covered important aspects of climate change including climate change adaptation and mitigation, Global and Asian Legal dimensions related to climate change, Policy and Management case studies: Reflecting Challenges and solutions to climate change, and Green Entrepreneurship and Green Initiatives. 

The regional roundtable was attended by around 95 participants including international delegates, representatives from NGOs, Media, researchers, and students.

In order to facilitate international delegation, the meeting with the top management of Symbiosis International University and a press meet along with a networking event was held at Vishwabhavan, SB Road. The press interacted with the top management represented by Dr. Vidya Yeravdekar, Pro-Chancellor, Symbiosis International (Deemed University), Dr. Rajiv Yervadekar, Pro-Vost Symbiosis International (Deemed University), and Dr Shashikala Gurpur, Fulbright Scholar, Director, Symbiosis Law School-Pune, Dean- Faculty of Law, SIU, Jean Monnet Chair Professor (EUC- LAMP co-founded by EU). The press meet was also attended by Do Thi Xuan Dung, Hue University, Vietnam, Dr. Rhishikesh Dave, Marwadi University, India, ,Vu Thi Lan Anh, Hanoi Law University, Vietnam, Haslinda Binti Mohd Anuar, University Utara Malaysia, Malaysia, Maizatun Binti Mustafa, International Islamic University, Malaysia, Matthew Alexander Blackett, Coventry University, United Kingdom, Alberto Ruda González, Universitat De Girona, Spain, Kostami, Konstantina Androniki European Knowledge Spot, Greece, and Kariofyllia Petridou, Pedmede, Greece.

Dr. Shashikala Gurpur welcomed the top management, the consortium partners, and the press. Dr Gurpur gave an overview of the climate change project. The press meet started with a short introduction of the delegation. Thereafter, Project managers representing different universities gave a short overview of the respective work packages. Dr. Vidya informed the press about the development of curricula on sustainability and climate change leading to the promotion of principles of sustainability. She also highlighted important sustainable initiatives at the SIU campus. During the networking event, the Symbiosis Climate Change Law & Policy Centre [SCCLPC], at SLS, Pune was virtually inaugurated  by Dr. Vidya Yeravdekar, Pro-chancellor, SIU. The centre will be utilized for conducting clinical legal research and be used as a pedagogic lab for various engagements with academia and industry and community. 

The Centre will be used for climate justice research, faculty training, skill training,  experiential learning, and small group seminar discussions for UG and PG students who will be enrolled in the transnational Dual Degree Programme and Joint Degree Programme pertaining to Climate Change Policy and Law.