Looking Through Indira Gandhi’s Vision: Some Recollections+

Abstract

The United Nations Conference on the Human Environment (UNCHE) was held in Stockholm during 5–16 June 1972. The Indian Delegation was personally led by the late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. As a Cabinet Minister this author was a member of it. Hence, this contribution is a personal reflection of the author. India has been an active participant in all the major global environmental conferences to protect the global environment. The 1992 Rio Conference is considered the landmark for the starting point of international environmental law-making. Still, it is the 1972 Stockholm Conference that should be considered as the pillar for the codification of international environmental law and governance. In view of this, the Stockholm +50 (2-3 June 2022) Conference was a good occasion to review the successes and failures over the last half a century and reiterate the call for all nations to co-operate fully to meet their commitments under multilateral environmental agreements including 2015 Paris Agreement. This recollection provides a glimpse, through Indira Gandhi’s vision, into the international environmental processes and the prospects for the Stockholm+50 and beyond.