Environmental Disasters and Climate Change

Ohdedar, Birsha

Abstract

This chapter analyses the legal framework for environmental disasters in India in the context of intensifying climate impacts. The Disaster Management Act, 2005 (DMA) is the primary legal framework governing disasters. In addition, other areas of law, regulation and policy are relevant to each disaster, such as flood plain zoning legislation for floods. The links between these laws and the disaster management framework are significant in providing a coherent response to disasters. This chapter analyses the law and policy framework for environmental disasters through a broad lens by examining disaster-specific laws and broader environmental law and policy. The chapter first analyses the DMA and outlines the institutional and policy framework it produces. It then examines laws relating to specific disasters, such as floods and droughts. Finally, a case study is provided of coastal disasters, which outlines the challenges in coordinating a coherent framework to respond effectively to disasters.

Citation

Ohdedar, B. (2024). Environmental Disasters and Climate Change. In P. Cullet, L. Bhullar, & S. Koonan (Eds.), The Oxford Handbook of Environmental and Natural Resources Law in India (569-588). Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780198884682.013.32

• Acceptance Date: May 1, 2024
• Publication Date: Jul 18, 2024
• Deposit Date: Jul 2, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Jul 19, 2025
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Pages: 569-588
• Book Title: The Oxford Handbook of Environmental and Natural Resources Law in India
• ISBN: 9780198884682
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780198884682.013.32
• Keywords: Disasters, floods, drought, climate change, coast