Archive · 31 Oct 2025
India's Climate Policy Under Fire for Excluding Farmers' Sectors from Carbon Credits
Imagine India has a plan to earn special 'climate points' by doing good things for the environment, like planting trees and farming in a way that helps the planet.
These points can be traded with other countries.
The government recently made a list of activities that can earn these points.
However, they accidentally left out farming, forests, and land use, which are super important for India's climate goals and for helping millions of farmers.
The writer thinks this is a mistake because these 'nature-based' activities actually help the environment a lot and can even earn more money and benefits than the 'technology-based' activities they did include.
They also worry that leaving out farmers' work goes against what the Prime Minister has said about protecting farmers.
The government is urged to rethink this decision to make sure everyone working to help the climate is included.
India's Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has excluded Agriculture, Forestry, and Other Land Use (AFOLU) sectors from carbon credit trading under the Paris Agreement's Article 6.4 mechanism.
This exclusion is seen as contradictory to India's climate commitments, particularly its target to create a significant carbon sink by 2030 through land restoration.
Critics argue that AFOLU sectors offer substantial environmental, social, and economic benefits, often fetching higher prices for carbon credits than technology-based projects.
The decision appears to contradict the Prime Minister's stated commitment to protecting farmers' interests and inclusive climate action.
The Ministry is urged to reconsider the exclusion to ensure AFOLU sectors are included in climate mechanisms and bilateral partnerships like the India-Japan Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM).
- Who
- India's Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) and the National Designated Authority for Implementation of the Paris Agreement (NDAIAPA)
- What
- Excluded Agriculture, Forestry, and Other Land Use (AFOLU) sectors from the list of activities eligible for carbon credit trading under the Paris Agreement's Article 6.4 mechanism, and similar bilateral agreements.
- When
- June 7, 2024 (Office Memorandum for Article 6.4 Mechanism); July 14, 2025 (Office Memorandum for Article 6.2)
- Where
- India
- Why
- The stated reason for exclusion is to promote capital-intensive, technology-based activities. However, critics argue this decision overlooks the significant contribution of AFOLU sectors to climate commitments and farmer livelihoods, potentially contradicting national climate goals and the Prime Minister's emphasis on farmer welfare.
- Ministry Involved
- Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC)
- Key Mechanism
- Article 6.4 Mechanism of the Paris Agreement
- Excluded Sectors
- Agriculture, Forestry, and Other Land Use (AFOLU)
- National Climate Plan
- National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC)
- Carbon Sink Target
- 2.5-3 billion tonnes of CO2-equivalent by 2030