Date: 2026-04-28Category: Press ReleaseState: Union GovernmentCountry: India
Centre for Trade and Investment Law (CTIL) Organises Symposium on Carbon Governance and Global Justice: Reconciling Trade Competitiveness and Climate Responsibility
**Executive Summary**
The Centre for Trade and Investment Law (CTIL) and Dharmashastra National Law University (DNLU) co-hosted an international symposium on “Carbon Governance and Global Justice” on April 24–25, 2026. The event addressed the legal and policy dimensions of Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanisms (CBAM) and carbon pricing, focusing on reconciling trade competitiveness with climate responsibility. Key outcomes included the deliberation of equitable trade frameworks for developing nations and the recognition of significant academic research in the field.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Core Themes and Objectives**
* **Interlinkage of Trade and Climate:** The symposium explored how carbon governance and global justice are intrinsically linked, necessitating a balance between industrial growth and environmental sustainability.
* **Carbon Pricing Mechanisms:** Expert panels critically examined the legal, ethical, and economic implications of instruments such as CBAM and other carbon pricing models.
* **Climate Justice:** A primary focus was placed on "Equitable Climate Action under International Trade Law," specifically regarding the impact on developing nations.
**Legal and Policy Deliberations**
* **Regulatory Frameworks:** Discussions emphasized the critical role of legal frameworks in managing the intersection of trade policy and climate responsibilities.
* **Trade Competitiveness:** Panelists deliberated on how to maintain trade competitiveness while adhering to global climate obligations.
* **Inclusive Governance:** The event highlighted the need for collaborative academic initiatives to shape responsive and inclusive global trade governance.
**Symposium Structure and Outcomes**
* **Technical Engagement:** The event featured four technical sessions chaired by experts from legal, ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance), and academic backgrounds.
* **Academic Recognition:** The symposium concluded with the announcement of the top five research papers and the distribution of certificates to participants.
* **Collaborative Effort:** The event brought together a diverse group of academicians, researchers, students, and professionals to contribute to the discourse on sustainable trade.
**Impact Analysis**
**Developing Nations**
**Impact:** These nations face significant challenges in balancing trade competitiveness with international climate action instruments like CBAM.
**Action Required:** Policy advocates and representatives must work toward ensuring equitable outcomes and the inclusion of developing nation interests in international trade law.
**Academicians and Researchers**
**Impact:** They are positioned as key contributors to the ongoing discourse on sustainable trade practices and global governance.
**Action Required:** Continue collaborative academic initiatives and policy-oriented research to help shape future trade and climate frameworks.
**Legal and Trade Professionals**
**Impact:** They are responsible for navigating and implementing the complex legal frameworks that reconcile industrial growth with environmental mandates.
**Action Required:** Engage in broader societal outreach and legal discourse to ensure trade policies are responsive to both economic and environmental needs.
Key Entities Referenced
Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM): A key climate action instrument and trade policy tool analyzed for its legal, economic, and ethical implications on global trade competitiveness and carbon pricing.
WTO Chairs Programme: An international academic initiative under which the symposium was organized to foster research and discourse on international trade law and carbon governance.
Centre for Trade and Investment Law (CTIL): A primary specialized body under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry that organized the symposium to shape inclusive global trade governance frameworks.
Dharmashastra National Law University (DNLU), Jabalpur: The host academic institution and co-organizer central to the symposium's deliberations on equitable climate action and international trade law.
Ministry of Commerce & Industry
Centre for Trade and Investment Law (CTIL)
Organises Symposium on Carbon Governance
and Global Justice: Reconciling Trade
Competitiveness and Climate Responsibility
Legal and Policy Dimensions of Carbon Border Adjustment
Mechanisms Discussed
Posted On: 28 APR 2026 4:20PM by PIB Delhi
The Centre for Trade and Investment Law (CTIL), Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, Ministry of
Commerce and Industry, Government of India, collaborated with the Centre for Studies in International
Trade and Investment Laws (CITIL), Dharmashastra National Law University (DNLU), Jabalpur, in
organising the WTO Chairs Programme–International Symposium on “Carbon Governance and Global
Justice: Reconciling Trade Competitiveness and Climate Responsibility”, held on 25 April 2026 at DNLU,
Jabalpur.
The event commenced on 24 April 2026 with the inaugural address by Appellate Body Member, WTO
(2011–2020) and India’s former Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the WTO, Mr. Ujal Singh
Bhatia, as the Chief Guest. Following the inaugural session, Mr. Bhatia delivered the first expert talk,
setting the stage for the two-day symposium. In his address, he emphasised that carbon governance and
global justice are intrinsically linked.
In the first panel discussion on carbon pricing mechanisms and carbon border adjustments, the panel
critically examined the legal, ethical and economic implications of climate action instruments such as
CBAM and other carbon pricing mechanisms.
The second day of the symposium (25 April 2026) commenced with an expert panel discussion on
“Carbon Governance and Climate Justice Issues: Equitable Climate Action under International Trade
Law”.
The panelists deliberated on key legal and policy dimensions of carbon border adjustment mechanisms
and climate-linked trade instruments, emphasising the need to balance trade competitiveness with climate
responsibilities and ensure equitable outcomes for developing nations.
The academic core of the symposium comprised four technical sessions that facilitated academic and
policy-oriented engagement. Technical Session 1 was chaired by Former Senior Director, ESG, Cyril
Amarchand Mangaldas, Mr. Bose Varghese, and Assistant Professor and Head, Centre for WTO and
WIPO Studies, HNLU, Dr. Ankit Awasthi; Technical Session 2 by Co-Founder and Advocate, Sarvada
Legal, Mr. Seetharaman Sampath, and Associate Professor (Intellectual Property Law), DNLU, Dr. Gargi
Chakrabarti; Technical Session 3 by Professor of Law, DNLU, Prof. (Dr.) Shailesh N. Hadli, and Director,
Centre for International Trade and Business Laws and Associate Professor of Law, NALSAR Universityof Law, Dr. Rosmy Joan; and Technical Session 4 by Assistant Professor, DNLU, Dr. Shruti Nandwana,
and Consultant/Assistant Professor, CTIL, Ms. Sunanda Tewari. These sessions were conducted over both
days of the symposium.
The symposium concluded on 25 April 2026 with a valedictory ceremony. The ceremony was graced by
Judge, High Court of Madhya Pradesh, Justice Vivek Agarwal, as the Chief Guest. In his address, he
emphasised the critical role of legal frameworks in balancing industrial growth with environmental
sustainability. He also acknowledged CTIL’s contribution to trade policy discourse and encouraged further
outreach to ensure broader societal impact.
A key highlight of the ceremony was the announcement of the top five research papers and the distribution
of certificates to all participants.
The event brought together academicians, researchers, professionals, and students, contributing to ongoing
discourse on sustainable trade practices and reinforcing the role of collaborative academic initiatives in
shaping responsive and inclusive global trade governance frameworks.
The symposium was organised by DNLU, Jabalpur under the guidance of Director, CITIL and Assistant
Professor of Law, DNLU, Dr. Utkarsh K. Mishra, and Professor and Head, CTIL, Dr. James J.
Nedumpara, with the academic and administrative leadership of Vice Chancellor, DNLU, Prof. (Dr.)
Manoj Kumar Sinha, and Registrar, DNLU, Dr. Praveen Tripathi.
The inaugural session of the symposium was also attended by Vice Chancellor, DNLU, Prof. (Dr.) Manoj
Kumar Sinha; Professor of Law, Chanakya National Law University, Patna, Prof. (Dr.) Manwendra K.
Tiwari; and Professor of Environmental Biotechnology, Department of Biological Science, Rani Durgavati
Vishwavidyalaya, Prof. (Dr.) Surendra Singh, as Guests of Honour. Also in attendance were Registrar,
DNLU, Dr. Praveen Tripathi, and Director, CITIL, Dr. Utkarsh K. Mishra.
The first panel discussion features Co-Founder and Advocate, Sarvada Legal, Mr. Seetharaman Sampath;
Vice President and Head, Policy Advocacy and Economics, Hindalco Industries Limited, Aditya Birla
Group, Ms. Prachi Priya; Former Senior Director, ESG, Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas, Mr. Bose Varghese;
and Associate Professor (Intellectual Property Law), DNLU, Dr. Gargi Chakrabarti. The session was
moderated by Director, CITIL, Dr. Utkarsh K. Mishra.
***
Abhishek Dayal/ Abhijith Narayanan/ Ishita Biswas
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