Packaged water maker Bisleri proposes water credits akin to carbon credits | Current Affairs | Vision IAS
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    Packaged water maker Bisleri proposes water credits akin to carbon credits

    Posted 26 Jun 2024

    2 min read

    Bisleri has partnered with TERI School of Advanced Studies to conduct a study and will share its findings with central government to develop a framework for water credits for beverages industry.

    Water Credit

    • A market-based mechanism similar to carbon credits, which incentivises water conservation and quality improvement.
      • Carbon credits are generated by projects that have reduced or avoided or removed carbon emissions
      • Each credit represents one less tonne of carbon dioxide, or another greenhouse gas equivalent, (CO2e) in atmosphere.
    • Individuals and entities can earn tradable credits by adopting water-saving measures.
      • These credits can then be sold to others needing to offset their water usage or improve their water management practices. 

    Significance of Water Credits

    • Addressing water stress and help in achieving SDG6 (Clean Water and Sanitation).
      • In India, 11 out 15 major river basins will be water-stressed by 2025. 
    • Enhance water use efficiency in agriculture, which is the largest extractor of groundwater
    • Promote and foster investment in sustainable water management practices.

    Challenges in implementing water credit system

    • Unlike carbon emissions, water savings require localized approach, factoring in rainfall and consumption at a watershed level.
    • Spatial limitation for transactions as they are confined to hydrological boundaries.
    • Preventing wealthier entities from dominating the market. 

    Potential approach towards water credit system

    • A regulatory body must be in place to facilitate and successfully maintain free market conditions.
    • Adopt multiplayer approach. For example, industries can buy water credits from water-rich municipalities, thus helping them mitigate fund crunch. 
    • Adopt global best practices to lay a roadmap for water trading.
      • For instance, water is traded on markets in Murray-Darling basin in Australia, which helped farmers make more productive use of water.
    • Tags :
    • Water Credit
    • SDG6
    • Carbon Credit
    • Water Stress
    • Carbon CreditCarbon CreditWater StressWater Stress
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