How India Could Turn Green-Policy Delays into a Digital Advantage
The gradual implementation of green policies in India and to a great extent the carbon markets and the environmental credits are viewed as a deterrent. Nevertheless, this delay can become an exclusive chance for the country to jump over the outdated systems and lose no time to turn directly to the developed digital surveillance technologies. As the Indian Carbon Market continues to take shape, India is well positioned in a unique place to incorporate Digital MRV (Measurement, Reporting and Verification) since its inception. India can create a more transparent, scalable, and globally believable green finance ecosystem through the use of satellite data, artificial intelligence, and real-time monitoring.
India’s Carbon Market and Green Credit Push
In June 2023, India formally launched its Carbon Credit Trading Scheme in order to create a domestic carbon market. Concomitant with this, the Green Credit Programme had been initiated to encourage voluntary environmental friendly practices like afforestation, water conservation, sustainable agriculture, mangrove restoration and waste management. Some states such as Tamil Nadu have already started pilot projects, especially mangrove restoration that has the ability to store thousands of tonnes of carbon per hectare.
But the establishment of tradable carbon credits needs proper Measurement, Reporting and Verification (MRV) , a process that demonstrates actual climate impact.
Why Traditional MRV Is No Longer Enough
Traditional MRV is based on hand surveys, sample plots, field visits, paperwork and periodic audits, typically with a five to ten years interval. This method is expensive, tedious and may also be subject to error by man. Research indicates that MRV can sustain the project costs up to 20% alone, and smaller projects are economically not viable.
More to the point, such an approach results in incoherent, latent, and occasionally unreliable information. Traditional MRV can just not keep up with current times in a world where businesses require near-real-time performance data on both environmental and social aspects of their operations.
The Rise of Digital MRV
Digital MRV involves satellites, drones, sensors, AI models and machine learning in monitoring environmental projects in real-time and precisely. With these systems, near-real-time measurements of forest cover, soil carbon, crop patterns and restoration success can be done. They save huge amounts of money, prevent data lapses and minimize manipulation.
Carbon markets across the world are grappling to adapt digital monitoring into the outdated regulations. India, however, has the option to base its regulations on digital-first surveillance since its inception.
India’s Space and AI Boom Supports dMRV
In India, the Space Policy 2023 has provided broader access to the participation of the private sector in the domain of Earth Observation. In the meantime, the India AI Mission of 10371 crore is developing national AI infrastructure. Collectively, these efforts offer the technological foundation of large scale dMRV implementation.
There are already start-ups such as Pixxel, GalaxyEye, Boomitra, Varaha and Anaxee Digital Runners that are using satellite-based monitoring, machine learning models, and geo-tagged mobile data to monitor carbon sequestration on farms and forests.
Policy Still Lagging Behind Technology
Although there is good innovation on the side of the players, what is officially written on carbon and green credit policy in India gives minimal mention of digital MRV. Although the latest forestry standards demand five years of rehabilitation and 40% canopy cover to grant credit which is best assessed through remote sensing, there are still no clear digital requirements.
AI based MRV has been suggested by workshops by FAO, NITI Aayog, NABARD and climate consultancies such as Crisil, but no binding regulations have been established yet.
Conclusion: A Narrow Window of Opportunity
Digital MRV is not a choice, but quickly getting to be the standard world wide. The regulatory latency in India is now potentially its largest strategic asset- in the event that the policymakers officially integrate the digital surveillance in the carbon and green credit policies. Doing that would enhance investor confidence, increase transparency, introduce small farmers and forest communities into the system, and make India a world leader in digital climate governance. As India pushes for sustainability innovations, initiatives like being the First in India to Achieve “Water-Positive” further strengthen the country’s position in global climate leadership.
