COP-30: Use carbon trading to win climate leadership

An efficient and credible carbon market can give India a chance to lead a global agenda that's fair to everyone

- TUHIN A. SINHA & PRADEEP SINGHVI

Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India is redefining the global climate narrative by embedding sustainability and innovation in its growth story. As India advances towards its net-zero 2070 target, low-carbon technologies are no longer peripheral—they are emerging as the backbone of a new economic model. By tackling legacy inefficiencies, investing in innovation and scaling home-grown services in clean energy and unexplored reserves, India is cutting emissions while unlocking economic value.

As COP-30 in Belém, Brazil, this year nears, the urgency of climate action could not be starker. The Sixth Assessment Report (2023) of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reaffirmed what science has long warned: global warming is accelerating, and the 1.5° Celsius target is slipping away. Against this backdrop, India's climate actions resonate globally. COP-30 will serve as a pivotal moment in international negotiations and a strategic opportunity for India to accelerate its ambitions through robust carbon markets, digital verification of offsets and the adoption of transformative clean technologies.