Revamp afforestation rules for climate justice

Indigenous peoples should be given major stake in managing compensatory afforestation funds. Otherwise, forest restoration will fail, jeopardising India's chances of achieving its Paris climate goals

India is the fourth largest emitter of greenhouse gases (GHG) in the world. It has also signed the Paris Climate Agreement, like other 194 countries. The Paris Agreement sets out a global action plan to limit global temperature rise this century well below two degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. In order to meet this goal, India has formulated its Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC) plan as mandated by the agreement. The INDC proposes several actions to lower its GHG emission. The ministry of environment, forests and climate change (MoEF&CC) claims that its INDC plan is to bring “climate justice”.  

“Climate justice”