In a significant step toward accelerating India’s role in high-integrity carbon markets, the Global Carbon Council (GCC) and the Indian Sugar & Bio-Energy Manufacturers Association (ISMA) signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) during COP30 in Belém, Brazil.
The MoU was formally signed by Dr. Yousef Alhorr, Founding Chairman of GCC, and Mr. Gautam Goel, President of ISMA, marking a major collaborative effort between the global carbon certification ecosystem and India’s rapidly expanding sugar-bioenergy sector.
A Partnership to Strengthen India’s Climate Leadership
The agreement establishes a structured framework to enhance India’s engagement in voluntary and compliance carbon markets by supporting the development of high-quality, transparent, and globally aligned carbon-crediting practices. Key areas of collaboration include:
- Joint knowledge-building initiatives such as webinars, workshops, and training programs focused on global carbon markets, GCC standards, and best practices.
- Capacity development for project design, registration, issuance, and methodology development tailored to India’s sugar and bio-energy value chain.
- Regulatory advocacy to encourage the adoption of GCC methodologies for key sectors such as compressed biogas (CBG), green hydrogen, and bio-energy projects.
- Development of sector-specific methodologies, including carbon-accounting frameworks suited to India’s unique feedstock types and processing environments.
- Facilitating recognition of GCC carbon credits under India’s Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS) and enabling Host Country Letters of Authorization (HCLOAs) for eligible projects.
Statements from Leadership
Dr. Yousef Alhorr emphasized that the partnership will enable India’s sugar and bio-energy industries to unlock new opportunities in global carbon markets while advancing sustainable and circular practices at scale.
Leaders from ISMA highlighted that the collaboration will enhance the sector’s ability to align with international standards, adopt advanced decarbonization tools, and contribute meaningfully to India’s national climate commitments.
Effective Timeline
The MoU became effective on 19 November 2025 and will remain in force for two years, with provisions for renewal or transition to a comprehensive long-term agreement.
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