Carbon Sequestration — Current Affairs 2026
Current Affairs Connections
India's Green Credit Program Launched to Incentivize Environmental Actions
13 October 2023The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) launched the Green Credit Program (GCP) as an innovative market-based mechanism to incentivize voluntary environmental actions across various sectors. Under this program, individuals and entities can undertake activities like afforestation, water conservation, and sustainable agriculture, and earn 'Green Credits'. These credits are tradable, creating a demand for environmental actions. From a carbon sequestration perspective, the GCP specifically includes afforestation and tree plantation as eligible activities, directly promoting the enhancement of carbon sinks. This initiative is a significant step towards leveraging private sector participation and market forces to achieve India's climate and environmental goals, including its NDC commitments for increasing forest and tree cover. It signifies a shift towards a more holistic and incentivized approach to environmental stewardship.
UPSC Angle: Analyze the GCP as a market-based instrument for environmental governance and climate mitigation. Discuss its potential to enhance carbon sequestration, its challenges (MRV, equity), and its alignment with India's NDC targets and the broader concept of 'green economy'.
COP28 Global Stocktake Outcome Emphasizes All Pathways to Net-Zero, Including CCS
13 December 2023The 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) to the UNFCCC concluded with the 'UAE Consensus,' which for the first time explicitly called for 'transitioning away from fossil fuels in energy systems, in a just, orderly and equitable manner, accelerating action in this critical decade, so as to achieve net zero by 2050 in keeping with the science.' Crucially, the outcome also recognized the role of 'transitional fuels' and technologies like carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) in achieving net-zero, particularly for hard-to-abate sectors. This signifies a global acknowledgment of technological carbon sequestration as an indispensable tool alongside rapid emission reductions. For India, which is still reliant on fossil fuels for energy security, this provides a policy window to explore and deploy CCUS technologies, especially in its industrial sector, while simultaneously scaling up renewable energy. The consensus also reiterated the importance of protecting and restoring nature, including forests and mangroves, reinforcing the role of nature-based solutions.
UPSC Angle: Examine the implications of COP28 outcomes for India's climate policy, particularly regarding the balance between fossil fuel phase-down, renewable energy expansion, and the deployment of CCUS technologies. Discuss how this global consensus impacts India's strategy for achieving its net-zero target and its carbon sequestration commitments.
India's MISHTI Scheme to Boost Mangrove Restoration and Blue Carbon Potential
01 February 2023 (announced in Union Budget)The 'Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats & Tangible Incomes' (MISHTI) scheme was announced in the Union Budget 2023-24, aiming to restore and protect mangroves along India's coastline. This initiative is a direct policy push towards enhancing India's blue carbon ecosystems. Mangroves are highly effective carbon sinks, storing significant amounts of carbon in their biomass and underlying sediments, often at rates much higher than terrestrial forests. Beyond carbon sequestration, MISHTI also focuses on providing tangible incomes to local communities through ecotourism and sustainable resource management, aligning with the principles of sustainable development. This scheme is crucial for India's climate mitigation efforts, coastal protection against extreme weather events, and biodiversity conservation. Several coastal states, including Gujarat, Maharashtra, and West Bengal, are actively implementing mangrove restoration projects under this broader national focus.
UPSC Angle: Discuss the significance of blue carbon ecosystems in India's climate mitigation strategy. Analyze the MISHTI scheme's objectives, implementation challenges, and its potential co-benefits for coastal communities, biodiversity, and climate resilience. Connect it to India's NDC commitments and the broader concept of nature-based solutions.