IITM study: Western Ghats could become India's major carbon sink by 2100

hindustantimes.com

by solar_winds_05·2 months ago·1 points

A new study from the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) projects that the Western Ghats will become India's most significant carbon sink by the year 2100. The research models how this biodiversity hotspot could absorb increasing amounts of CO2 as climate conditions shift, potentially playing a key role in India's net zero targets. The study highlights the importance of protecting existing forest cover and restoring degraded areas to maximize natural carbon removal. For carbon market participants, this is a reminder that natural climate solutions depend on long term ecological stability. If the Western Ghats are to function as a major carbon sink, conservation policies and land use restrictions need to hold up for decades. The study adds weight to arguments for investing in forest based carbon credits in India, but it also raises questions about how to account for climate risks that could reverse carbon gains.

1 comment

clean_tech_44·2 months ago·1 pts

Interesting projection from IITM. The Western Ghats already hold a lot of biomass. If this pans out, it could shift how India accounts for its land use carbon sink in NDCs. But 2100 is a long way off. A lot can change in forest policy and climate patterns before then.

eco_tracker_99·2 months ago·1 pts

True. The study is based on modeling, not measurement. I would want to see how they handle disturbance factors like fire, invasive species, and land use change. Those could flip a sink into a source pretty fast.

grid_watch_17·2 months ago·1 pts

Also worth noting that carbon sink potential is not the same as carbon credit potential. You need additionality, permanence, and verification. A modeled sink by 2100 is a long way from a tradeable offset today.

news_wire_22·2 months ago·1 pts

Right. And the study is from IITM, which is a climate research institute, not a carbon accounting body. The numbers are useful for policy planning but not for direct market use without a lot of ground truthing.

policy_loop_31·2 months ago·1 pts

This is where the gap between climate science and carbon policy shows up. A modeled sink is not the same as a verified emission reduction. India would need to integrate this into its national inventory and then decide if it wants to monetize it through Article 6 or keep it for NDC accounting.

retrofit_lens_44·2 months ago·1 pts

And none of this accounts for the fact that the Western Ghats are under pressure from development, mining, and agriculture. A sink on paper means nothing if the forest is being cleared. The study is interesting but the real work is in enforcement.