Carbon credit assessment in selected hydro power projects of India: A step towards environmentally sustainable development Kumar Piyush1, Khare Deepak2 1Student, M. Tech, Department of Water Resources Development and Management, Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee, India 2Professor, Department of Water Resources Development and Management, Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee, India Online published on 7 September, 2023. Abstract Environmental degradation and climate change pose significant challenges globally, necessitating innovative approaches to mitigate their effects. One such approach is the concept of carbon credit trading, which emerged from the Kyoto Protocol. This research paper aims to explore the scope of carbon credit trading in water resource projects, considering their potential to contribute to greenhouse gas emission reduction and sustainable development. In this study, 23 water resource projects across India were analyzed to estimate their areal emissions using the G-RES tool. The results were further examined using regression analysis in Excel, identifying the factors that significantly affect areal emissions. Based on these findings, a regression model was formulated to enhance our understanding of the dynamics between carbon emissions and water resource projects. The research findings highlight the feasibility and effectiveness of incorporating carbon credit trading mechanisms in water resource projects. By quantifying and monetizing the emission reduction potential of these projects, they can attract financial incentives through carbon credit trading, which can further promote sustainable practices and encourage the adoption of cleaner technologies. This research also discusses literature review on the scope of carbon credit trading in various sectors such as agriculture, building and industries, marine, agroforestry etc. emphasizing the potential of carbon credit trading as a mechanism to incentivize emission reductions. The results offer valuable insights for policymakers, project developers, and investors, fostering informed decision-making towards environmentally sustainable development in the water sector. Top Keywords Carbon credit trading, Water resource projects, Environmental degradation, Climate change, Emission-reduction, Sustainability, Regression analysis. Top |