In a significant step towards addressing climate change, the Supreme Court directed the formulation of a national action plan to reduce carbon emissions from thermal power generation. The Bench of Justices P.S. Narasimha and Atul S. Chandurkar acknowledged the gravity of climate change, calling it an “existential global predicament” and emphasized the need for a coordinated institutional response.
The Court considered submissions filed by Amicus Curie Mr Jay Cheema and Mr. Sudhir Mishra, highlighting data that thermal power plants contribute approximately 8% of PM2.5 pollution in Delhi-NCR and are major year-round sources of sulphur dioxide (SO₂) emissions. Despite environmental mandates, only about 8% of the 540 thermal units have installed flue-gas desulphurization (FGD) systems, prompting the Court’s concern over ongoing non-compliance.
Highlighting the regulatory gap, the Court impleaded the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) and the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) as parties, and directed the Ministry of Power to convene a joint meeting with both bodies. The Ministry has been instructed to file a joint affidavit within four weeks, outlining the existing legal and regulatory framework and a coordinated action plan to control emissions from the power sector.
The matter is next listed for hearing on August 19, 2025
Appearances:Â
Appellant(s) : Mr. Rahul Choudhary, Adv.; Ms. Srishti Agnihotri, AOR; Ms. Itisha Awasthi, Adv.; Ms. Sanjana Grace Thomas, Adv.; Mr. D.p.singh, Adv.; Ms. Tara Elizabeth Kurien, Adv.
Respondent(s) :Mr. Vikramjit Banerjee, A.S.G.; Mr. Gurmeet Singh Makker, AOR; Mr. Nachiketa Joshi, Adv.; Mr. Ayush Anand, Adv.; Ms. Ruchi Kohli, Adv.; Ms. Swarupma Chaturvedi, Sr. Adv.; Mr. Raman Yadav, Adv.; Mr. Vikramjit Banerjee, A.S.G.; Ms. Nachiketa Joshi, Adv.; Mr. Ayush Anand, Adv.; Ms. Ruchi Kohli, Adv.; Ms. Swarupama Chaturvedi, Adv.; Mr. Chitvan Singhal, Adv.; Mr. Amrish Kumar, AOR; Mr. Vikramjit Banerjee, A.S.G.; Mr. Swarupama Chaturvedi, Sr.Adv.; Mr. Nachiketa Joshi, Adv.; Mr. Ayush Anand, Adv.;Ms. Ruchi Kohli, Adv.; Mr. Raman Yadav, Adv.; Mr. Sudarshan Lamba, AOR; Mr. Ashutosh Dubey, AOR; Mrs. Rajshri Dubey, Adv.; Mr. Ashutosh Dubey, Adv.; Mr. Abhishek Chauhan, Adv.; Mr. Amit P Shahi, Adv.; Mr. Rajendra Anbhule, Adv.; Mr. Rahul Sethi, Adv.; Ms. Chanda Trikha, Adv.; Mr. Sudhir Mishra, Adv.; Mr. Jatinder (jay) Cheema, Adv.; Mrs. Petal Chandhok, Adv.; Ms. Ritwika Nanda, Adv.; Ms. Swasti Mishra, Adv.; Mr. Ashish Bassi, Adv.; Mr. Gaichangpou Gangmei, AOR; Ms. Amrita Narayan, Adv.; Ms. Molshree Bhatnagar, Adv.; Mr. Shaida Das, Adv.; Mr. Harshit Dhamija, Adv.; Ms. Sukanya Lal, AOR