Revised Green Credit Programme Methodology

Revised Green Credit Programme Methodology aimed at enhancing private-sector participation and strengthening climate action in India:

  • Shift to Outcome-Based Credits
     Credits are now awarded only after a minimum of five years of restoration activity on degraded forest land, ensuring accountability beyond immediate plantation efforts. (Business Standard, The New Indian Express)

  • Mandatory Canopy Density Threshold
     To qualify for Green Credits, plantations must achieve at least 40% canopy density, ensuring ecological quality—not just tree numbers. (The Times of India, Business Standard, The New Indian Express)

  • Survival-Based Credit Allocation
     One Green Credit is granted for each tree that has survived beyond five years, emphasizing longevity and vitality. (Business Standard, Outlook Business)

  • From Numeric Benchmarks to Ecological Impact
     The earlier method awarded credits immediately based on a minimum of 1,100 trees per hectare. The revised model focuses instead on actual changes in canopy density and tree survival. (Business Standard, The Indian Express)

  • Restricted Tradability
     Credits are now non-tradable and non-transferable, except between a holding company and its subsidiaries. (The Indian Express, The Tribune)

  • One-Time Use for Compliance
     Green Credits may be exchanged once to meet obligations like compensatory afforestation, CSR requirements, or project approval mandates. Once exchanged, they are extinguished. (The Indian Express, The New Indian Express)

  • Mandatory Verification Process
     Claimants must submit a claim report and pay a verification fee. Credits are issued only after a review by designated agencies, replacing the prior direct certification by forest departments. (Business Standard, The Indian Express)

  • Grandfathering of Existing Projects
     Projects initiated under the older (2024) framework that made advance payments through the Green Credit portal will continue under those provisions. New claims follow the updated methodology from August 29, 2025 onward. (Business Standard)

  • Broader Context of GCP
     The Green Credit Programme (GCP), launched in October 2023 under the Mission LiFE initiative, is a market-based incentive mechanism inviting voluntary environmental actions—such as tree planting, water conservation, waste management, and more—to generate Green Credits. (Hindustan Times, ETBFSI.com, Sai Krishna Associates, CEEW)

Why This Matters for Private Sector and Climate Action:

  • Drives Quality and Longevity: The focus on actual ecological results (survival and canopy density) ensures better outcomes than mere plantation counts.

  • Increases Accountability: With stringent verification, there's less risk of superficial compliance or misuse.

  • Aligns with Sustainability Messaging: The one-time use and limited tradability ensure credits are applied in meaningful ways (CSR, afforestation), aligning with environmental goals.

  • Strengthens Private Sector Incentives: While stringent, the clear, outcome-based approach encourages credible, long-term environmental investment.

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