Bareilly Cantonment goes carbon-negative four years early: TERI study confirms net carbon surplus from green cover

Bareilly Cantonment has achieved carbon-negative status, according to a scientific study by TERI School of Advanced Studies. The study found that the cantonment's plantation areas absorb 61,128 tonnes of CO2 equivalent annually, while the net carbon balance is negative 60,386 tonnes. This means the green cover captures more carbon than the cantonment emits, putting it nearly four years ahead of its 2030 carbon neutrality target set during Manthan-2025 by India's Raksha Mantri. The total carbon stored in the plantation cover is about 1.89 lakh tonnes of CO2 equivalent. Bareilly CEO Dr Tanu Jain credited the Cantonment Board, defence authorities, and local residents for the achievement. TERI noted that the model could be replicated across other cantonments and urban local bodies in India, offering a practical path for municipal carbon management. This milestone shows how local government action on tree cover and emissions can deliver measurable carbon surplus ahead of schedule. It also highlights the role of scientific verification in validating carbon claims for urban areas.