The News: The government has submitted standard operating procedures (SoPs) with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) for monitoring the future award of carbon credits to the Indian projects located on the waters of western rivers, according to a draft proposal of Pakistan Commission on Indus Water (PCIW).

A complete modus operandi was discussed and agreed by the participants of the committee so as to actively monitor in future the cases of award of carbon credits to the Indian projects on the waters of western rivers, which, while being in dispute between Pakistan and India, are placed before UNFCCC for approval, said the draft proposal made available to The News.

Under the new SoPs, the draft proposes that an establishment of clean development mechanism (CDM) cell will be established at PCIW, provisions of the list of Indian projects to all concerned, along with their current status, reorientation of CDM cell already established at the Ministry of Environment vis-a-vis the monitoring of Indian projects on the waters of western rivers and provisions of the information to all concerned about the Indian projects on the western rivers, which have officially been notified to Pakistan by India under the relevant clauses of Indus Waters Treaty 1960.

It suggests the fortnightly web monitoring of Indian projects before the UNFCCC for registration/award, environmental impact assessment (EIA) of Indian projects on the waters of western rivers, which have been applied by India for award of carbon credits and provisions of additionally available/procurable information about the Indian projects to the Ministry of Environment.

The new SoPs also include legal appraisal/review of the GoP’s concerns, review of EIA of Indian projects, comments by the GoP to the UNFCCC, if any, upon the Indian projects presented for award of carbon credits, coordination of periodic meetings and bi-monthly review reports, according to the draft proposals.

It was also agreed that upon devolution the assigned role of the Ministry of Environment is to be taken up by its federal successor. Necessary coordination to this effect would be done by the Ministry of Water and Power and the PCIW.

India has been awarded carbon credits for its two projects on River Indus, Nimoo-Bazgo Hydroelectric Plant and Chutak Hydroelectric Plant.

Pakistan raised the objections on the design of both the projects under the related treaty provisions.

The objections regarding the Chutak Hydroelectric Plant were resolved at the level of Permanent Indus Commission, while the objections regarding Nimoo-Bazgo Hydroelectric Plant still remain unresolved and Pakistan is likely to take the case to the World Bank for its resolution.

Pakistan also questioned India’s award of eligible for getting the carbon credits for its projects having trans-boundary implications when the evaluation of trans-boundary impacts is a prerequisite for the award of carbon credits under the stipulated provisions of the Kyoto Protocol. Source>>

Related articles

• Indian-origin prof uses cellphone to monitor black carbon in air (chimalaya.org)
• Himachal takes lead in going green (chimalaya.org)
• Soils May Amplify Warming Power of Greenhouse Gases (scientificamerican.com)
• Sanitation Highlights from Himalaya (chimalaya.org)
• Effects OF climate change: Grave warnings (chimalaya.org)
• Water management for climate change (chimalaya.org)
• Satellite-based inventory and monitoring: snow and glaciers of the Himalayas-Most detailed study till date (chimalaya.org)