Blog Detail

  • Q.10. Do you think Green Credit Programme can be used to circumvent existing laws particularly those that deal with forest conservation? Substantiate your answer.

    • 14,Oct 2024
    • Posted By : SPM IAS Academy
    • 0 Comments
    • APSC2023
    • GS3

    The Green Credit Programme (GCP), introduced under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, is part of India’s broader push for sustainable development. It seeks to incentivize voluntary environmental actions by industries, individuals, and institutions through a credit-based system. These actions may include afforestation, conservation of water bodies, and waste management, contributing to India’s climate and biodiversity goals. While the programme offers potential benefits for environmental restoration, concerns have been raised about its potential misuse to circumvent existing laws, particularly those related to forest conservation.

    Can Green Credit Programme Circumvent Existing Laws?

    1. Offsetting Without Addressing Actual Deforestation: The GCP might allow industries to offset environmental damage by purchasing green credits instead of adhering to strict forest conservation regulations. For instance, companies could undertake afforestation projects in non-forest areas to earn credits, bypassing the need for compensatory afforestation mandated under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, which requires reforestation in the same ecosystem that was disturbed.
    1. Dilution of Environmental Accountability: By allowing industries to earn credits through external environmental projects, the GCP could dilute direct accountability for on-site environmental degradation. This may lead to industries fulfilling their legal obligations through credits, rather than following rigorous environmental mitigation measures required by the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process.
    2. Monoculture Plantations vs. Biodiversity: Companies might earn green credits by engaging in monoculture plantations that do not restore lost biodiversity, undermining the objectives of the Forest Rights Act (2006) and the Wildlife Protection Act (1972). Such plantations often fail to replicate the ecological value of natural forests, leading to biodiversity loss and ecological imbalance.
    3. Lack of Comprehensive Oversight: Without strict monitoring and reporting mechanisms, the GCP could be misused to greenwash activities that do not contribute meaningfully to environmental restoration. If credits are issued without proper verification or in ecosystems that do not match the biodiversity loss caused by deforestation, it could lead to loopholes in forest conservation laws, allowing industries to bypass their legal responsibilities.

    Safeguards Against Circumvention

    1. Complementarity with Existing Forest Laws

    For the GCP to work effectively without undermining forest laws, it must be designed to complement existing frameworks like the Forest Rights Act, 2006, and the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980. The government has asserted that the GCP is not a substitute for the existing obligations under these laws but rather a supplementary mechanism to incentivize private and community participation in conservation efforts. The GCP must ensure that any green credits earned through afforestation or conservation efforts do not replace the legal requirement for compensatory afforestation or biodiversity restoration in forest diversion projects.

    2. Stringent Monitoring and Reporting Mechanisms

    To prevent misuse, the GCP must include strict monitoring and reporting mechanisms. Digital tools like Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and satellite-based monitoring, as recommended by the Kasturirangan Committee (2012) on Western Ghats conservation, can ensure that afforestation and conservation efforts under the GCP are carried out in areas that contribute meaningfully to ecological balance, and not as mere greenwashing exercises.

    Additionally, the Green Credit Advisory Council (proposed under the GCP) must include independent environmental experts to ensure transparency in the allocation and verification of credits. These experts should regularly review whether projects generating green credits are meeting biodiversity and conservation goals.

    3. Incentivizing Ecologically Valuable Projects

    While the GCP encourages afforestation, it must prioritize projects that have high ecological value rather than simply increasing forest cover. Reports by the Forest Survey of India (FSI) have shown that monoculture plantations, often undertaken under compensatory afforestation, do not compensate for the biodiversity lost through natural forest clearance. The GCP should focus on ecosystem restoration, including the revival of degraded forest areas, conservation of native species, and improving water retention capacity, to align with the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC).

    Positive Role of Green Credit Programme in Conservation

    1. Promoting Private and Community Participation

    The GCP has the potential to foster greater community and private sector involvement in conservation efforts. For instance, through the NABARD’s (National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development) involvement, local communities and individuals can engage in green activities like watershed management and reforestation, contributing to both environmental and socio-economic benefits.

    In Assam, for example, initiatives like the Kaziranga Karbi Anglong Landscape conservation have involved local communities in reforestation projects. Such community-led initiatives could be scaled up under the GCP, helping restore biodiversity while creating livelihood opportunities.

    2. Supporting India’s Climate Goals

    The Green Credit Programme aligns with India’s climate mitigation strategies under the Paris Agreement, where the country committed to creating an additional 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of carbon sinks through forest and tree cover by 2030. The GCP incentivizes activities like afforestation, soil conservation, and wetland restoration, which contribute directly to carbon sequestration.

    While the Green Credit Programme has the potential to promote voluntary environmental actions, it must be carefully regulated to avoid misuse and ensure that it does not undermine existing forest conservation laws like the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980. By incorporating stringent monitoring, ensuring complementarity with current regulations, and focusing on ecologically valuable conservation efforts, the GCP can contribute significantly to India’s environmental sustainability goals. However, without adequate safeguards, there is a risk that industries may use it as a tool to circumvent their legal obligations, diluting the integrity of India’s conservation framework.

    Check out  UPSC Coaching Centre Guwahati | APSC Coaching Centre Guwahati | Crack APSC Exam | UPSC Civil Services Exam | Ethics Paper in UPSC Exams

  • Get your free e-book

  • Should be Empty:
  • Free Counselling

  • Should be Empty:
  • STAY UPDATED

    Please fill this form to get updated
  • Should be Empty:
Call Now