Explanation:

• Section 14 of the NGT Act deals with the jurisdiction and powers of the Tribunal to settle disputes.
• It grants the Tribunal the jurisdiction over all civil cases where a substantial question relating to environment is involved.
• Such questions arise out of implementation of enactments specified in Schedule 1 of the Act.
• The seven enactments specified in Schedule 1 to the NGT Act are – The Water Act, The Water Cess Act, The Forest (Conservation) Act, The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution Act) and The Environment Protection Act.
• It also lists The Public Liability Insurance Act and The Biological Diversity Act.
• Recently (March 2015), The Ministry of Environment & Forests has said the National Green Tribunal cannot settle the issue or any application on climate change as it is a subject of international conventions and protocols.
• “The issue of climate change is the subject of international conventions and protocols and does not lie in the ambit of Section 14 of the National Green Tribunal Act.
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