Overview
The CTIL at the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, in partnership with the Centre for Studies in International Trade and Investment Laws (CITIL), organised a two‑day WTO‑Chairs Programme symposium titled “Carbon Governance and Global Justice: Reconciling Trade Competitiveness and Climate Responsibility”. The event was held on 24‑25 April 2026 at Dharmashastra National Law University (DNLU), Jabalpur.
Key Developments
- Inaugural address by former WTO Appellate Body Member and ex‑Ambassador Ujal Singh Bhatia, who underscored the inseparability of Carbon Governance and global justice.
- First panel examined legal, ethical and economic dimensions of CBAM and other carbon pricing mechanisms.
- Second‑day panel deliberated on equitable climate action under international trade law, stressing the need for developing nations to secure fair outcomes.
- Four technical sessions chaired by senior legal scholars and practitioners explored trade‑policy, intellectual‑property and ESG intersections.
- Valedictory ceremony featured High Court Judge Justice Vivek Agarwal, who highlighted the role of robust legal frameworks in harmonising industrial growth with environmental sustainability.
- Announcement of the top five research papers and distribution of participation certificates.
Important Facts
The symposium brought together academicians, researchers, professionals and students from across India. Key participants included:
- ESG expert Bose Varghese (former Senior Director, Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas).
- Intellectual‑property scholar Dr. Gargi Chakrabarti (DNLU).
- Policy‑advocacy leader Ms. Prachi Priya (Hindalco Industries, Aditya Birla Group).
- Legal scholars Dr. Ankit Awasthi, Prof. Shailesh N. Hadli, Dr. Rosmy Joan and Dr. Shruti Nandwana chaired the technical sessions.
Organisers were Dr. Utkarsh K. Mishra (CITIL Director) and Dr. James J. Nedumpara (CTIL Head), with administrative support from Vice‑Chancellor Prof. (Dr.) Manoj Kumar Sinha and Registrar Dr. Praveen Tripathi.
Exam Relevance
The symposium touches upon several UPSC syllabus areas: Trade Competitiveness versus climate commitments, the legal architecture of the WTO, and the emerging policy tool CBAM. Understanding ESG criteria and Climate Justice is crucial for answering questions on sustainable development, international environmental law and India’s trade strategy.
Way Forward
For policymakers, the key take‑aways are:
- Formulate a domestic carbon pricing mechanism aligned with WTO rules to avoid disputes.
- Strengthen institutional coordination between the Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Environment, and legal academia to craft balanced trade‑climate policies.
- Promote research on CBAM impacts on Indian exporters and explore mitigation measures such as carbon credits.
- Engage with multilateral forums to advocate for the interests of developing nations in global climate‑trade negotiations.
Continued academic‑policy dialogue, like the CTIL‑DNLU symposium, will be instrumental in shaping India’s approach to sustainable trade governance.