Notable Cases
A Compilation of Important Environmental Law Decisions
Resource Topic
Region & Country
2023
South America
Guyana
Access to Information
Oil & Gas
Offshore oil & gas
2022
South America
Brazil
Climate Change
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
Human Rights
2022
Pacific
Australia
Climate Change
Human Rights
Indigenous Peoples
2022
South Asia
India
Mining
Sand, gravel and aggregate mining
2021
South Asia
India
Wetlands
2020
South Asia
Sri Lanka
Polluter Pays Principle
Protected Areas
2020
Sub-Saharan Africa
Uganda
Access to Information
The High Court of Uganda declared that petroleum production sharing agreements executed between the government of Uganda and numerous oil companies are public documents that are subject to disclosure under Article 41(1) of the Constitution of Uganda and the Access to Information Act.
2020
South Asia
India
Environmental Impact Assessment
Public participation
Public Participation
The High Court of Delhi ordered the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change to provide an additional 60-day period for the public to comment on proposed changes to the environmental impact assessment law. The High Court also directed that the proposal must be translated into all official languages recognized in the Indian constitution to facilitate effective public participation.
2020
South Asia
India
Energy
Coal and gas power plants
Mining
Coal mining
The National Green Tribunal ordered coal mining and energy companies to implement a series of measures to reduce environmental pollution and health impacts associated with their facilities operating in the Tamnar and Charghoda coal blocks in the state of Chhattisgarh. The Tribunal declared that no expansion of mining or industrial activities in the area could be approved until a thorough environmental carrying capacity study is completed.
2020
South Asia
Bangladesh
Toxic Substances
The High Court Division of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh issued a Rule Nisi directing agriculture, health, and environmental ministries in Bangladesh to show cause as to why they should not phase out glyphosate-based pesticides in favor of using safer alternatives. Among other things, the ministries are required to fully study the use and impacts of pesticides, investigate pesticide-related deaths, and immediately implement public awareness campaigns about the risks of using glyphosate-based pesticides.
This project has been made possible by the generous support of the Philip Stoddard Brown and Adele Smith Brown Foundation.
The banner art on this page is a mural by Esteban Camacho Steffensen.