Integrating the Sustainable Development Goals into India’s Legal Education Landscape: The What, Why and How of a Reform Paradigm

Abstract

In this era of the Anthropocene, where four of the nine planetary boundaries have been crossed, the need for environmental stewardship, social equity and sustainability cannot be over-emphasized. So critical is the sustainability discourse that it has transcended disciplinary boundaries, permeating various aspects and sectors of human endeavour. A critical area where sustainability, as evidenced by the sustainable development goals (SDGs) framework, exerts influence is higher education and, more importantly, legal education. This article examines the intersection between sustainability (SDGs), human rights and legal education. It makes a case that if legal education, like other disciplines, has to propel the pursuit of a more liveable and equitable future, it is imperative to embed sustainability (SDGs) within legal education’s academic landscape. This central theme is examined against India’s legal education scenario. While there are a few isolated attempts to foster a culture of sustainability within the realm of legal academia in India, among these, the efforts of Jindal Global University and its law school, namely, Jindal Global Law School, stand out due to their steadfast commitment to this ideal. Jindal Global University (JGU) and Jindal Global Law School (JGLS) have strategically positioned sustainability as a foundational tenet of their institutional ethos, and their endeavours serve as a compelling example for institutions in India and elsewhere seeking to elevate their commitment to sustainability. Accordingly, based on the proactive initiatives of JGU and JGLS, this article develops a reform paradigm centred on what, why and how to revamp India’s legal education sector to infuse it with a sustainable culture.