The Global Carbon Council (GCC), the Global South’s first internationally accredited carbon market program—approved under the ICAO CORSIA scheme and recognized by ICROA—has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Sugar and Bio-energy Manufacturers Association (ISMA) during COP30 in Belém, Brazil, according to a press release. The agreement aims to deepen India’s engagement in global carbon markets.
The MoU was formalized by Dr. Yousef Alhorr, GCC’s Founding Chairman, and Gautam Goel, President of ISMA, underscoring both organizations’ commitment to sustainable development, climate action, and high-integrity participation in carbon markets.
Under the partnership, GCC and ISMA will work together on:
Joint webinars, workshops, and training programs to enhance understanding of global carbon markets and GCC standards.
Capacity-building initiatives for project development, registration, issuance processes, and methodology creation tailored to India’s sugar and bio-energy industry.
Advocacy efforts with Indian regulatory agencies to encourage adoption of GCC standards for Compressed Biogas (CBG), green hydrogen, and other bio-energy projects.
Development of biofuel-specific methodologies and carbon-accounting frameworks that align with Indian feedstock and processing conditions.
Supporting recognition of GCC carbon credits under India’s Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS) and enabling Host Country Letters of Authorization (HCLOA) for qualified projects.
During the signing ceremony, Dr. Alhorr stated: “We are delighted to partner with ISMA to empower India’s sugar and bio-energy sector in accessing global carbon markets. This MoU will help build local capacity, promote sustainable practices, and enable high-integrity participation in voluntary and Article 6.2 carbon markets.”
ISMA Director General Deepak Ballani added: “This collaboration with GCC is a critical step for our members to engage with international carbon markets, adopt best practices, and support India’s climate goals while improving sustainability across the sugar and bio-energy sectors.”
Effective from 19 November 2025, the MoU outlines a two-year framework for joint initiatives in awareness-building, technical capacity development, and promotion of carbon market participation, with an option for renewal or conversion into a formal agreement.
