Climate Change Mitigation

CIRCULAR ECONOMY IN AGRICULTURE : POLICY AMBITION & GROUND REALITY

India generates nearly 350 million tonnes of agricultural waste annually, creating both an environmental challenge and a major economic opportunity. The circular agriculture approach aims to convert this waste into valuable resources such as bioenergy, organic fertilisers, and bio-based products, with the potential to create a $2 trillion market and millions of jobs by 2050. While the Government has launched multiple initiatives for biomass utilisation, residue management, and infrastructure development, implementation gaps, weak supply chains, limited monitoring, and uneven regional performance remain key concerns. Strengthening outcome-based monitoring, market linkages, and integrated waste management is essential to transform agricultural waste into sustainable rural wealth.

Bio-based chemicals and enzymes: Opportunities and challenges

Bio-based chemicals and enzymes are industrial products derived from renewable biological resources such as crops, biomass, and agricultural residues through processes like fermentation and enzymatic conversion. They offer a sustainable alternative to petrochemicals by reducing fossil fuel dependence, lowering carbon emissions, and supporting a circular bioeconomy.

India has strong potential in this sector due to its large agricultural base, established fermentation expertise, and growing manufacturing capacity. The government has prioritised biomanufacturing under the BioE3 policy, and domestic companies are increasingly investing in bio-based production. However, challenges such as higher costs, feedstock supply constraints, limited infrastructure, and slow market adoption need to be addressed.

With appropriate policy support, shared infrastructure, and market incentives, bio-based chemicals and enzymes can strengthen India’s industrial competitiveness, promote agricultural value addition, and contribute to sustainable economic growth.

Scaling up Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) in India

Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) is a key technology that reduces industrial carbon emissions by capturing CO₂ and either reusing it in industrial applications or storing it safely underground. It is particularly important for hard-to-abate sectors such as steel, cement, and power, where emissions cannot be eliminated through renewable energy alone. For India, CCUS supports the transition to a low-carbon economy while ensuring energy security and industrial growth. However, high costs, infrastructure gaps, and policy challenges limit its large-scale deployment. Strengthening regulatory frameworks, carbon markets, financial incentives, and technological innovation will be essential to make CCUS a viable tool for achieving India’s net-zero target by 2070.

SACRED GROVES :ECOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE & CONSERVATION CHALLENGES

Sacred groves are community-protected patches of natural vegetation preserved due to religious and cultural beliefs, representing one of India’s oldest traditions of conservation. Found across diverse ecological regions, these landscapes act as biodiversity refuges, support groundwater recharge, prevent soil erosion, and help regulate local microclimates. They also serve as ecological corridors and genetic reservoirs for rare and endemic species. However, sacred groves are increasingly threatened by declining cultural practices, land encroachment, infrastructure and renewable energy projects, and the lack of proper mapping and legal recognition. Strengthening community rights under the Forest Rights Act, recognising them as Community Reserves or OECMs, and integrating traditional knowledge into modern conservation frameworks can enhance their role in biodiversity protection and climate resilience.

UNION BUDGET & THE PUSH FOR CARBON CAPTURE IN INDIA

Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) is a key technology for reducing emissions from hard-to-abate sectors such as cement and steel, where carbon dioxide is released from core production processes. With budgetary support, indigenous research, and global cooperation, CCUS can help India balance industrial growth with climate commitments and move steadily towards its net-zero emissions target by 2070.

India’s Expanding Ramsar Network

The Ramsar Convention is an international treaty adopted in 1971 for the conservation and wise use of wetlands, recognizing their importance for biodiversity, water security, climate regulation, and human livelihoods. Wetlands designated as Ramsar Sites receive global recognition for their ecological value, including support for migratory birds, flood control, groundwater recharge, and carbon storage. In India, the addition of new sites such as Patna Bird Sanctuary in Uttar Pradesh and Chhari-Dhand Wetland in Gujarat reflects the country’s growing commitment to wetland conservation. These designations strengthen scientific management, international cooperation, and sustainable use while balancing ecological protection with community livelihoods.

MONETISING METHANE REDUCTION IN PADDY CULTIVATION

Reducing methane emissions from paddy fields can generate additional income for farmers through carbon markets. By shifting from continuously flooded rice fields to practices such as Alternate Wetting and Drying, methane emissions can be significantly lowered without affecting yields while also saving water. The verified reductions are converted into carbon credits that companies purchase to offset their own emissions, enabling farmers to earn extra revenue. This approach links climate mitigation, water conservation and livelihood enhancement, though it also requires reliable measurement systems and fair benefit-sharing to ensure small farmers benefit equitably.

NATURE- BASED SOLUTION : TURNING CLIMATE COMMITMENTS INTO GROUND ACTION

Nature-based Solutions involve using ecosystems such as forests, wetlands, mangroves, grasslands, rivers, and urban green spaces to address climate change, biodiversity loss, disasters, and livelihood challenges. They are increasingly recognised as central to India’s climate and development strategy because they provide carbon storage, flood control, water security, food security, and job creation while being cost-effective. However, challenges such as inadequate finance, policy gaps, land conflicts, weak monitoring, and risks of greenwashing remain. Global initiatives such as ENACT aim to accelerate and scale up Nature-based Solutions worldwide, helping countries integrate them into climate policies, mobilise funds, and promote community participation for a resilient and sustainable future.

NATIONAL ENERGY CONSERVATION DAY

National Energy Conservation Day, observed on 14 December, underscores the importance of efficient and responsible energy use in India’s development journey. Through initiatives such as CCTS, PAT, UJALA, PM Surya Ghar, energy-efficient building codes, and behavioural programmes like LiFE, India is reducing energy wastage, strengthening energy security, and advancing its clean-energy and climate goals.