National Blue Carbon Framework: Strengthening India’s Coastal Resilience and Climate Finance

This initiative is a strategic component of India’s updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement. Beyond carbon sequestration, the framework emphasizes the 'co-benefits' of coastal conservation, such as disaster risk reduction against cyclones and tsunamis, and the protection of marine biodiversity. From a governance perspective, the policy seeks to integrate the MISHTI (Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats & Tangible Incomes) scheme with market-based incentives, ensuring that conservation is economically viable for coastal populations. However, the implementation faces challenges, including the need for robust Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) protocols to ensure the permanence of carbon sinks. Furthermore, the government must ensure that the transition to a credit-based system does not marginalize traditional fishing communities or lead to 'green-grabbing' of communal coastal lands. UPSC Relevance: This development is crucial for GS Paper III (Conservation and Climate Change) and GS Paper II (Government Policies). It serves as a prime example of innovative climate financing and can be used in answers discussing India's path to Net Zero, the Blue Economy, and community-led environmental governance.