Times News NetworkMangaluru: Karnataka is looking to turn its mangroves and other blue carbon ecosystems into an economic asset, with the state aiming to develop projects that can generate carbon credits as part of a larger target of five million tonnes over five years.Upendra Tripathy, honorary adviser on climate change to the chief minister, said this at a stakeholders’ workshop on blue carbon ecosystems and mangrove projects organised by the Environmental Management and Policy Research Institute (EMPRI) in collaboration with the National Institute of Technology Karnataka (NITK), Surathkal, on Wednesday.Tripathy said the coastal target could serve as a starting point for projects that could be scaled up over time. NITK and EMPRI could identify viable projects and bring companies on board, leveraging their research expertise. Participating companies could also seek state govt support, creating opportunities for local stakeholders to benefit from carbon credits.Stressing the need to move from climate discussions to implementation, he cited India’s growth in solar energy capacity from about 3 GW to around 160 GW as an example of what coordinated efforts could achieve.Srinivasulu, principal secretary, department of ecology and environment, and director general of EMPRI, said climate action had evolved beyond awareness campaigns and action plans to create economic opportunities through green growth, investment, employment, carbon credits and climate finance.Karnataka needed an enabling ecosystem to cut emissions, sequester carbon and improve interdepartmental coordination to generate credits within the state, he said. Opportunities could emerge in carbon trading, evaluation and research. With industries required to offset emissions, the state should help them meet these obligations through credits generated by local projects.Srinivasulu said Karnataka had constituted a Net Zero Task Force chaired by the chief minister, with Tripathy as vice-chairman. The task force had prioritised mangroves, which offer the highest carbon sequestration potential among activities discussed, including forestry and agriculture.Meenakshi Negi, head of Forest Force, Karnataka forest department, called for collaboration among society, scientists and the govt. Dakshina Kannada deputy commissioner Darshan HV said the administration was ready to work with academic institutions and researchers to translate innovations into practical solutions.NITK director Prof B Ravi urged participants to identify priority projects and make concrete commitments, with an outcome report due within a week. Conservator of forests, Mangaluru Circle, Kamala K, highlighted mangroves’ role as coastal barriers and carbon sinks.END
