Current Research in Private International Law: Virtual Workshop with Stellina Jolly

 Tuesday, 3 February 2026, 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. (CET)

"Forging a Path for Climate Justice: Integrating Public and Private International Law in Transboundary Litigation in India"

About the Speaker:

Stellina Jolly is an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Legal Studies, South Asian University (SAU) an international organization established by the SAARC.  She is also a Visiting Senior Research Associate at the University of Johannesburg and an Affiliate Scholar at Raoul Wallenberg Institute of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law.

About the Topic:

Cross-border climate litigation, gaining traction globally, requires active engagement with private international law for effective dispute adjudication. Although Indian climate jurisprudence has not yet substantively addressed cross-border disputes, emerging trends suggest that this scenario may soon evolve. The talk analyses three plausible litigation scenarios involving Indian and foreign parties to assess the readiness of Indian private international law in addressing transboundary climate harm. Firstly, Indian plaintiffs filing cases in foreign jurisdictions against transnational corporations headquartered abroad, alleging climate-related harm caused within India; secondly, foreign plaintiffs filing cases before Indian courts for the harm caused by Indian transnational corporations in their jurisdictions; thirdly, foreign plaintiffs filing cases before Indian courts for the transboundary harm caused by Indian companies as a result of their Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The talk evaluates the adequacy of Indian private international law in addressing cross-border climate cases and proposes incorporating environmental and human rights considerations in the determination of choice of law.   
 

About the Virtual Workshop Series:

The virtual workshop series “Current Research in Private International Law" is organised by Ralf Michaels and Philipp Kronier. The series features guest speakers and Institute staff members who present and discuss their work on current developments and research topics in private international law. The workshops are geared to scholars who are researching in the field of private international law, but attendance is open to all individuals having an academic interest (including doctoral candidates and students).