The session commenced with the Coordinator introducing Dr. Ilise Feitshans JD, to the attendees. Following the introduction, Dr. Ilise engaged with Ph.D. scholars, discussing their research areas and offering valuable insights and suggestions to enhance their studies. Dr. Ilise addressed critical legal questions, particularly concerning child victims, and explored relevant laws that could be incorporated into academic theses. She then examined stringent regulations in Europe regarding plastic usage, comparing them with existing Indian laws and discussing how India could adopt stricter regulatory measures.
A significant portion of the lecture was dedicated to the European Union Artificial Intelligence Act. Dr. Ilise emphasized the Act’s importance in regulating AI usage while maintaining its utility as a tool. This was followed by an in-depth discussion on groundwater management and the concept of ‘brownfields’ in the United States, a term associated with land redevelopment and environmental considerations. The discussion then shifted to the relationship between State and Central governments, highlighting the stark differences between the governmental functions of the United States and India. Dr. Ilise briefly explained the concept of ‘Federal Preemption’ and suggested that a comparative study between U.S. and Indian environmental laws would be a valuable research topic. She also addressed environmental justice and the geopolitical landscape, noting that geopolitics is highly unpredictable and challenging to analyze.
Further, Dr. Ilise examined the issues of greenwashing and consumer protection, pointing out the absence of specific provisions addressing greenwashing in the Indian Consumer Protection Act. She highlighted European regulatory frameworks, including sorting techniques to verify the authenticity of environmentally friendly and organic products. Additionally, she discussed Europe’s stringent legislation on carbon emissions, which are subject to taxation and rigorous compliance checks. The session concluded with Dr. Ilise sharing her experiences at the United Nations and providing insights into how the process of becoming a part of the organization has evolved over the years.
