New Delhi, March 2 -- Climate litigation often feels like a distant Western concern, unfolding in American federal courts or European tribunals. Yet, the legal foundations that make such cases possible are now firmly in place in India. The shift has been gradual, almost quiet, but is unmistakable. What began as rights-based petitions against the state are evolving into a framework that can shape corporate conduct through disclosure rules, consumer law and project approvals.

One of the landmark climate-focused petitions in India, Ridhima Pandey vs Union of India, asked the judiciary to direct the government to do more to address climate change. The case relied on the constitutional right to life and India's international commitments. Alth...