What Kind of Responsibility do we have for Future Generations? Ensuring Intergenerational Justice in Ecological Matters with regard to a more Sustainable Future of India

In the wake of climate change and its impact on bio-physical conditions of human life, the question about our responsibilities for future generations has become a pressing one. Human generations thrive on the hard work and toil of preceding generations. In Laudato Si’, Pope Francis reminds the present generation of its responsibility towards the ‘not yet born’, stressing that “leaving an inhabitable planet to future generations is, first and foremost, up to us” (LS, 160). This recognition binds every generation with the responsibility to protect and present a habitable environment to succeeding generations. The socio-economic evolution of India illustrates how rapid changes and trends are posing an ominous threat to present living conditions. The enormous impact of climate change on ecosystems necessitates a reflexive appraisal of human responsibility in order to address potential consequences of present behaviour. This project addresses the issue of intergenerational justice with regard to climate change and its consequences on India in general, and Jharkhand in particular.