Environmental Jurisprudence and Sustainable Development: Role of the National Green Tribunal

Abstract

Industrialization, urbanization, and climate change have created enormous environmental and sustainable development difficulties in India. In response, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) was established under the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010 to expedite environmental protection and natural resource conservation cases, strengthening environmental jurisprudence. the NGT's influence on environmental law and sustainable development. See how the NGT has applied the “polluter pays principle,” the “precautionary principle,” and intergenerational equity in landmark cases like Almitra H. Patel v. Union of India on solid waste management, M.C. Mehta on industrial pollution, and rulings on sand mining, deforestation, and climate-related disputes. The Tribunal improved environmental governance, access to environmental justice, and industry accountability. Enforcement capabilities, jurisdictional overlaps with other courts, and NGT order compliance issues are identified. Based on legal analysis and practical outcomes, the NGT has become an important tool for environmental governance in India. However, it needs stronger institutional backing, better coordination with regulatory institutions, and increased public engagement to reach its full potential Finally, the NGT's work in the context of sustainable development highlights its significance as a catalyst in balancing ecological conservation with growth in modern India.