India and Japan launched the Operational Manual for the Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM) in New Delhi on 30 September 2026. The mechanism operates under Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement and is designed for cooperative approaches on greenhouse gas emission reduction activities.
Joint Crediting Mechanism
The Joint Crediting Mechanism is a bilateral carbon cooperation framework between India and Japan. It supports projects that reduce or avoid greenhouse gas emissions and allows credits to be issued and transferred after verification.
Rules of Implementation and Governance
The Rules of Implementation for the JCM were adopted on 8 June 2026. A Joint Committee with representatives from both governments oversees methodologies, project approval, credit issuance, third-party verification, and national registries to prevent double counting.
Project Areas and Credit Period
The JCM covers renewable energy, energy efficiency, waste management, compressed biogas, renewable hydrogen and ammonia, and carbon capture and storage. The crediting period for JCM projects is capped at 10 years, including renewals, and any extension requires approval from India’s competent authority.
Important Facts for Exams
- Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement provides a framework for voluntary cooperation between countries on emission reductions.
- The Joint Crediting Mechanism is used by Japan in several partner countries for low-carbon project cooperation.
- Carbon credits under such mechanisms are linked to measured and verified emission reductions.
- National registries are used to record credits and reduce the risk of double counting.
Memorandum of Cooperation
The initial Memorandum of Cooperation for the JCM was signed on 7 August 2025. The mechanism is intended to attract Japanese investment and support the transfer of low-carbon technologies and infrastructure to India.
