Launched with the intent of incentivizing environmental responsibility, India’s Green Credit Programme (GCP) is now drawing sharp criticism from environmentalists and policy experts who argue that the scheme may ultimately harm rather than help the country’s ecological balance.
Initially introduced as a market-based mechanism to reward individuals, companies, and communities for eco-friendly actions, the GCP allows entities to earn tradable credits by engaging in activities such as tree planting and sustainable farming. However, a key area of concern is that these credits are being extended to private actors, including corporations, to undertake afforestation on degraded forest lands—potentially bypassing the Forest Conservation Act’s checks and balances.
Critics argue that this creates a loophole for companies to secure large tracts of forest land under the guise of restoration. Instead of benefiting communities or restoring biodiversity, these activities could lead to monoculture plantations that degrade the natural ecosystem. “This isn’t afforestation; it’s greenwashing,” one expert noted, pointing to the lack of accountability and public oversight in the current framework.
Moreover, concerns have been raised about the dilution of public sector participation and the shift in burden toward private players with minimal state regulation. Activists also worry about the potential displacement of forest-dwelling communities and the erosion of local rights.
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, which oversees the programme, has defended it as a step toward sustainable development and climate mitigation. However, the ongoing backlash suggests the need for a deeper evaluation of its long-term social and environmental impacts.
