Linking Delhi Heatwaves to Article 21: Protecting the Constitutional Right to Life Amid Climate Crisis
The heightening heatwaves in Delhi drive home the urgency to tackle climate change as an issue of human rights. The right to life, as under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution, includes the right to a clean and stable environment. The judiciary acknowledging this right vis-a-vis the negative impacts of climate change is a responsibility placed on the state to take viable steps to abate these consequences. This involves setting up detailed heat action plans, encouraging sustainable city planning, maintaining access to primary resources such as water, and safeguarding at-risk populations. Ensuring adherence to these roles is essential for the protection of Delhi’s citizen constitutional rights from the intensifying climate crisis.