India, Oct. 13 -- The chronology of factors leading to the recognition of the right to climate change action in India fortuitously involves a critically endangered bustard, a bird, a solar boom and two Supreme Court benches that produced something surprising: India's first express constitutional right against the adverse effects of climate change.

In this regard, October 24, which falls this month and is commemorated as United Nations Day, also marks the International Day of Climate Action and is an apt date for raising a legal question: what promises does the Indian Constitution carry about the climate for Indians? Surprisingly, though, the answer begins with a bird, the Great Indian Bustard.

Evolution, which is oblivious to environmen...