Climate law in India is moving quickly. A national carbon market is taking shape, green credits have been introduced, renewable projects face their own approval questions, and courts are starting to treat climate change as a rights issue.
We advise renewable developers on environmental and land approvals, companies on carbon and green credit obligations, and individuals and groups on climate-related claims.
हिंदी में सारांश
भारत में कार्बन क्रेडिट ट्रेडिंग योजना 2023 और ग्रीन क्रेडिट नियम 2023 लागू हैं। सौर, पवन और भंडारण परियोजनाओं को ज़मीन, वन, वन्यजीव और स्थानीय अनुमतियों की ज़रूरत हो सकती है। सुप्रीम कोर्ट ने 2024 में जलवायु परिवर्तन के दुष्प्रभावों से मुक्त रहने के अधिकार को मान्यता दी।
Is this your situation?
- You are developing a solar, wind, hydro or storage project
- Your site involves forest land, a protected area or bird habitat
- Your company may be covered by emission intensity targets
- You want to earn or buy carbon or green credits
- You need to describe climate risks in a sustainability report
- You want to raise a climate-related concern before a court or tribunal
Key areas
Project approvals
Land, forest, wildlife, water and local permissions for renewable projects.
Carbon market
Obligations and trading under the Carbon Credit Trading Scheme.
Green credits
Registration and credits for activities like tree plantation and water conservation.
Disclosure
Climate risk in BRSR and investor reporting.
Communities
Land, livelihood and habitat concerns around large projects.
Litigation
Climate-related claims before the NGT, High Courts and Supreme Court.
Approvals for renewable energy
Many solar and wind projects do not need prior environmental clearance under the EIA Notification, 2006, but that does not mean they need no environmental approvals. Forest land needs forest clearance. Sites near protected areas may need wildlife board approval. Hydro projects above certain sizes need EC. In parts of Rajasthan and Gujarat, Supreme Court orders on protecting the Great Indian Bustard affect how transmission lines are laid. Water use, waste from panels and batteries, and local land rules also matter.
India's carbon market and green credits
The Energy Conservation (Amendment) Act, 2022 allowed the government to set up a carbon credit trading scheme, notified in 2023. It has a compliance mechanism, under which notified sectors must meet emission intensity targets, and an offset mechanism for voluntary projects. Separately, the Green Credit Rules, 2023 create credits for environmental activities such as tree plantation and water conservation.
| Scheme | Who it affects |
|---|---|
| Carbon Credit Trading Scheme, compliance mechanism | Obligated entities in notified sectors |
| Carbon Credit Trading Scheme, offset mechanism | Voluntary project developers |
| Green Credit Rules | Individuals, companies and bodies doing eligible activities |
| BRSR climate disclosures | Listed companies within SEBI thresholds |
Climate change in the courts
In M.K. Ranjitsinh v. Union of India (2024), the Supreme Court recognised that people have a right to be free from the adverse effects of climate change, drawing on Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution. This is shaping how courts look at environmental questions, including the balance between renewable energy and wildlife protection.
How we help
Understand the project or obligation
Site, technology, sector and targets.
Map approvals and rules
What applies and in which order.
Applications and documents
Filings, contracts and disclosures.
Disputes
Representation before regulators and courts.
How we work
We are a litigation and advisory practice led by Advocate BK Singh, with offices in Dwarka (New Delhi) and Vaishali (Ghaziabad), working on environmental matters across India.
- Deadline first: we tell you the time limit before anything else.
- Regulator and tribunal: we handle the board stage and the NGT, so nothing is lost between them.
- Plain advice: what we think will happen, including when a case is not worth filing.
- Written fee terms: agreed stage by stage, never linked to the outcome.
Related services
Renewable energy approvals · Carbon credits · Green credit programme · ESG and BRSR advisory · Forest clearance
Frequently Asked Questions
Do solar parks need environmental clearance?
Most solar projects are not listed in the EIA Notification, so they do not need prior EC, but they may need forest, wildlife and other permissions depending on the site.
Is India's carbon market running?
The legal framework is in place and targets have been notified for several sectors. Check the latest notifications for your sector.
What are green credits?
Credits earned for specified environmental activities under the Green Credit Rules, 2023, which can be used or traded as the rules allow.
Can I sue the government over climate change?
Climate concerns can be raised in court, especially after the 2024 Supreme Court judgment, but the remedy depends on a specific legal duty or violation.
How does bird protection affect power lines?
In parts of Rajasthan and Gujarat, Supreme Court orders on the Great Indian Bustard govern whether lines must go underground or carry bird diverters.
Can you help with carbon offset contracts?
Yes. We draft and review agreements for offset projects and credit purchases.
Renewable or climate question?
Tell us about the project or obligation. We will tell you what applies.
This page gives general information about environmental law as it stood when it was last reviewed. It is not legal advice on your case and does not promise any result. Laws, rules and time limits change, so check the current position for your matter before acting.
Need help with Climate Change and Renewable Energy Law?
Send us the notice, the order or a few photos. We'll tell you where you stand, which authority or NGT bench deals with it and when the next step is due, in plain words.
