“NLUO hosted The Green Mandate in collaboration with Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy”

The Green Mandate Season 2, Episode 2 was held on the campus of National Law University Odisha, on 18th April, 2023 in collaboration with Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy. The topic for the conversation was "Public participation in environmental decision-making," which is an important issue in today's world. The Green Mandate provides a platform for an in-depth conversation on such issues affecting current environmental challenges. 
The discussion was between Mr. Prafulla Samantara, environmental activist and the winner of the Goldman Environmental Prize and Mr.Debadityo Sinha, Lead at Climate and Ecosystems vertical at Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy. 

The conversation was fruitful, and both speakers highlighted the importance of public participation in environmental decision-making. They emphasized the need to involve local communities in the decision-making process, especially in matters related to the environment.  The discussion touched upon various issues, including climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental justice. 
The guest speaker, Mr. Samantara shared his experiences from public participation processes in Niyamgiri hills, Mali Parbat in Koraput etc. to acquaint the audience with the realities of a public participation process. Through this he invoked the civil society to make a difference by voicing their concerns with regards to the environment.  

The Q & A session highlighted the need for a collaborative approach between different stakeholders to ensure sustainable and equitable environmental policies.