What is the key objective of India's Green Credit Programme, recently operationalised under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B
Explanation
The correct answer is option 2 i.e. Reward voluntary environmental actions by individuals or entities.
The Green Credit Programme (GCP), launched by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), is a market-based mechanism designed to incentivize voluntary environmental actions. Unlike carbon credits which focus specifically on emissions, the GCP covers eight diverse areas, including tree plantation, water conservation, sustainable agriculture, and waste management.
It aims to create a "mass movement" for the environment under the LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) initiative. Individuals, industries, and local bodies earn tradable "Green Credits" for their positive contributions, which can then be sold on a domestic market platform or used for environmental compliance.