12 November 2024 : The Hindu Editorial Analysis
1. Giving shape to India’s carbon credit mechanism
(Source – The Hindu, International Edition – Page No. – 8)
| Context |
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Overview of COP-29’s Focus on Climate Finance and Carbon Credits Framework
- The Conference of Parties (COP-29), taking place in Baku, Azerbaijan from November 11 to 22, 2024, will prioritise discussions on climate finance, with a significant emphasis on carbon credits.
- India’s climate strategy has evolved, updating its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) in 2023 to establish a domestic carbon market supported by the Energy Conservation (Amendment) Act of 2022.
- India’s Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS) aims to align the country’s climate goals under the Paris Agreement with its broader economic objectives.
Lessons from Global Carbon Markets
- To ensure the success of its carbon market, India must consider two critical lessons: upholding carbon credit integrity and aligning with global standards.
Upholding Integrity of Carbon Credits
- Importance of Integrity: The credibility of carbon credits is fundamental to a successful carbon market. Global markets have faced issues of greenwashing, particularly within the voluntary carbon market (VCM).
- Risks of Greenwashing in India: India’s voluntary carbon market, operationalized through the Green Credit Programme (GCP), faces similar risks, especially in forestry-related projects. Critics argue that the program’s guidelines lack scientific rigour and may lead to ineffective environmental benefits.
- Ensuring Authenticity: To counter these risks, India must implement strict verification protocols to ensure the authenticity of carbon credits. Creating a national registry to prevent double-counting and involving independent third-party verifiers for assessing projects’ additionality and permanence are recommended measures.
- Learning from Global Standards: Drawing from the International Emissions Trading Association (IETA) and the Gold Standard, India can enhance its market’s integrity and attract both domestic and international investors.
Aligning with Global Standards
- Importance of Harmonization: For effective participation in the global carbon market, India must align its framework with Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.
- Role of Article 6.2: Article 6.2 provides a framework for Internationally Transferred Mitigation Outcomes (ITMOs), allowing countries to meet their climate goals via carbon trading.
- Preventing Double Counting: To maintain credibility, India’s carbon market should incorporate mechanisms that prevent double counting of credits.
- Global Standards and Accountability: Adopting transparent systems for tracking emissions reductions will help India meet international standards and contribute to global climate goals while safeguarding national interests.
Focus on Transparency and Disclosure
- Need for Comprehensive Disclosure: Transparency in India’s carbon credit system can be enhanced by centralising information on project details, carbon reduction techniques, and verification reports.
- Ensuring Additionality: Adherence to rigorous additionality standards will ensure that the credits reflect genuine emissions reductions.
- Third-party Verification and Audits: Regular audits and oversight by independent, BEE-approved auditors are essential for verifying project sustainability and tracking credit transactions in real-time.
- Challenges of Transparency: Implementing such transparency mechanisms poses challenges, including high costs for monitoring, reporting, and verification, potentially limiting smaller projects in the early stages.
Strengthening India’s Carbon Credit Mechanism
- While still in its infancy, India’s carbon market has the potential to support the nation’s climate finance objectives and promote sustainable development.
- By prioritising high standards for transparency and integrity, India can mature its carbon market and support its climate goals.
| PYQ: The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has predicted a global sea level rise of about one metre by AD 2100. What would be its impact in India and the other countries in the Indian Ocean region? (250 words/15m) (UPSC CSE (M) GS-3 2023) |
| Practice Question: Discuss the significance of a well-regulated carbon credit market for India’s climate goals. Examine the challenges India might face in ensuring transparency, integrity, and alignment with international standards in its carbon credit trading framework. (250 Words /15 marks) |
2. Ending discrimination in prisons
(Source – The Hindu, International Edition – Page No. – 9)
| Topic: GS2 – Governance |
| Context |
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Supreme Court Ruling on Non-Discrimination in Prisons
- In Sukanya Shantha v. Union of India (2024), the Supreme Court reaffirmed the right to non-discrimination for prisoners, striking down jail rules that segregated prisoners based on caste.
- This ruling emphasised that caste-based segregation violated fundamental rights under Articles 14 and 15 of the Indian Constitution.
- The judgement is part of a broader judicial trend rejecting prison classifications that discriminate based on arbitrary or irrational grounds.
Previous Cases Against Arbitrary Prison Classification
- In Prem Shankar Shukla v. Delhi Administration (1980), the Supreme Court ruled against class-based discrimination in handcuffing prisoners. It found it irrational to presume that poorer inmates were more dangerous than wealthier ones.
- The Inacio Manuel Miranda v. State (1988) case saw the Bombay High Court deeming discriminatory rules on the number of letters different classes of prisoners could write as unconstitutional.
- Similarly, in Madhukar Bhagwan Jambhale v. State of Maharashtra (1984), the Bombay High Court struck down rules preventing communication among prisoners, deeming them baseless and restrictive of prisoners’ rights.
Caste-Based Segregation in Prison Jobs
- In Sukanya Shantha, the Supreme Court addressed caste-based segregation in prison labour assignments. State prison rules mandated that marginalised caste prisoners perform cleaning tasks, while others were assigned cooking jobs.
- The Court found this classification perpetuated caste-based prejudice, preventing equal opportunity for reform.
- It was held unconstitutional under Articles 14 and 15, with the Court directing states to eliminate such discriminatory practices.
Rights of Political Prisoners
- In Gaur Narayan Chakraborty and Others (2012), the Calcutta High Court ruled that Maoists charged under anti-terror laws should be recognized as political prisoners, despite state opposition.
- Political prisoners were granted amenities under the West Bengal Correctional Services (WBCS) Act, including access to writing materials, reading materials, and cooking privileges.
- The High Court recommended that similar facilities should be available to all prisoners, advocating a dignified standard of treatment for inmates.
Moving Forward: Dignity and Basic Amenities for All Prisoners
- The Supreme Court’s recent decision against caste discrimination inside prisons highlighted the need for dignified treatment of prisoners, regardless of classification.
- To ensure this, the Model Prison Manual 2016 could be amended to provide basic amenities for all prisoners, eliminating unnecessary distinctions and enhancing prison conditions.
- Such reforms would reflect a commitment to minimum dignified living standards, reinforcing prisoners’ rights within the justice system.
| Practice Question: Examine the importance of ensuring non-discriminatory and dignified treatment for prisoners in India. How does the recent Supreme Court ruling on caste-based segregation in prisons contribute to upholding constitutional rights? (150 Words /10 marks) |
