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India's First CCTS Compliance Deadline (31 July 2026): Filing, Penalties and What Happens Next
India's Carbon Credit Trading Scheme faces its first real test on 31 July 2026, when obligated entities must file ACVA-verified emissions data for FY 2025-26. Here is what gets filed, how Carbon Credit Certificates are issued and traded on power exchanges, what a shortfall costs under the environmental compensation rules, and what compliance teams should do next.
C² Team
4 days ago5 min read
Article 6.4 Goes Live: What the Paris Agreement Crediting Mechanism Means for Indian Companies in 2026
The UN issued its first Article 6.4 credits in 2026, the CDM transition window closed on 30 June, and India has named green hydrogen, storage and CCUS among its eligible activities. What the Paris Agreement Crediting Mechanism means for Indian project developers and corporate buyers — supply, quality, pricing and practical next steps.
C² Team
Jul 65 min read
The Carbon Credit RFP Template: 27 Questions to Ask Before You Buy in 2026
Most corporate carbon credit purchases happen via casual email exchanges or broker spreadsheets, and that is exactly why so many of them end in regret. This post is a complete carbon credit RFP template: 27 questions across project integrity, vintage, additionality, permanence, co-benefits, pricing, and contract terms. Use it before you sign the next purchase order.
C² Team
May 253 min read
Voluntary Carbon Market H2 2026 Outlook: Prices, Supply, and What Buyers Should Do Now
The voluntary carbon market has spent eighteen months bifurcating between premium high-integrity supply and discounted legacy supply. Heading into H2 2026, three forces (Article 6.4 issuances, EU CBAM definitive-regime pricing, and India CCTS launch) are about to reshape pricing again. Here is the outlook and what corporate buyers should do this quarter.
C² Team
May 253 min read
Article 6.4 Explained: How the Paris Agreement’s New Carbon Mechanism Works for Indian Companies
Article 6.4 of the Paris Agreement creates a centrally-supervised global carbon market, the successor to the Clean Development Mechanism, and it is moving from rule-making to first issuances in 2026. This explainer breaks down how Article 6.4 works, what corresponding adjustments mean for Indian project developers and buyers, and how to position your company ahead of COP30 in Belem.
C² Team
May 253 min read
May 2026 Climate Brief: India CCTS, EU CBAM, and the Road to COP30
Csquare’s May 2026 monthly brief: India’s Carbon Credit Trading Scheme moves into compliance prep with targets notified for nine sectors, the EU CBAM definitive regime begins biting at €75 a tonne, and corporate climate teams start their COP30 readiness work. Here is what changed this month and what Indian sustainability and finance leaders should do about it.
C² Team
May 114 min read
How Carbon Credit Prices Are Set: A Buyer’s Guide to 2026 Market Mechanisms
Why does one carbon credit cost $3 and another $300? This buyer’s guide breaks down the eight forces that drive carbon credit pricing in 2026 — from project type and vintage to standard, co-benefits, CBAM linkage, and India CCTS spillovers — so finance and sustainability teams can budget, benchmark, and avoid overpaying for low-integrity supply.
C² Team
May 113 min read
What Is India's Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS)? A Plain-Language Guide
A plain-language guide to India's Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS). Learn how CCTS works, which sectors are affected, and how businesses can prepare for compliance and voluntary participation.
C² Team
Apr 144 min read
A Business Guide to Participating in the Carbon Credit Market
Step-by-step guide for businesses entering the carbon credit market. Learn when to buy credits, how to choose between voluntary and compliance options, and how to avoid common mistakes.
C² Team
Apr 133 min read
India's Carbon Credit Market Explained: What Every Business Needs to Know in 2026
Understand how India's carbon credit market works under the CCTS framework. Learn about compliance vs voluntary markets, credit trading, and what Indian businesses must prepare for in 2026.
C² Team
Apr 133 min read
India Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS) 2026: What Every Industrial Company Must Know
India’s Carbon Credit Trading Scheme is moving from policy to compliance in 2026, with emission intensity targets notified for nine industrial sectors and the first Carbon Credit Certificates expected by Q4. Industrial companies need to act now — register, baseline, and decide whether they will be net buyers or net sellers in the first compliance year.
C² Team
Mar 192 min read
Biodiversity Credits: What Indian Companies Need to Know
India is home to approximately 8% of the world's total biodiversity, including over 45,000 plant species and 91,000 animal species. Yet rapid industrialization, land conversion, and urban sprawl are degrading ecosystems faster than science can document them. At the intersection of this ecological crisis and global capital markets, a new financial instrument has emerged: the Biodiversity Credit. For Indian companies, this is not a distant trend. It is an imminent shift in how
C² Team
Feb 259 min read
Beyond the Server Room: Uncovering the Hidden Carbon Footprint in IT
Most IT companies believe that greening their data centers is enough. It is not. The real carbon story in tech runs far deeper, and the companies that will lead on ESG are those willing to look beyond the server room.
C² Team
Feb 225 min read
Why Your ESG Strategy Is Failing: 7 Data Collection Errors You Must Fix
Your ESG strategy isn't failing because of commitment—it's failing because of data.
After analyzing hundreds of ESG implementations across industries, from manufacturing giants to financial services firms, we've identified a troubling pattern: organizations with the strongest sustainability commitments often struggle the most with ESG reporting. The culprit? Data collection errors that undermine even the most well-intentioned strategies.
C² Team
Feb 177 min read
The Complete Carbon Credit Lifecycle: What Most Companies Get Wrong (And How to Get It Right)
Why Understanding the Carbon Credit Journey Matters for Your Business If you think carbon credits are simply a "buy and forget" solution to your company's emissions challenge, you're not alone—but you're missing the bigger picture. The reality of how carbon credits work is far more complex, nuanced, and powerful than most organizations realize. At csquare, we've guided countless businesses through their carbon journey, and we've seen firsthand how understanding the complete c
C² Team
Feb 149 min read
ESG Acronym Dictionary: Your Guide to the Alphabet Soup of Sustainability Reporting
In today's rapidly evolving business landscape, sustainability reporting has transformed from a "nice-to-have" into a critical business imperative. But let's be honest—the world of ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) reporting can feel like navigating an alphabet soup of acronyms, frameworks, and standards. At Csquare, we've spent years helping businesses decode this complexity, and we're here to be your guide through the maze.
C² Team
Feb 138 min read
The Hidden Value in Your Environmental Impact: 5 Credit Markets Transforming Business Sustainability
Most companies don't realize they're sitting on untapped environmental value. In the rush to achieve Net-Zero commitments, many organizations focus solely on carbon reduction. But what if we told you there are actually five distinct environmental credit markets that could unlock significant value for your business? At Csquare, we're helping companies navigate this expanding landscape and transform their environmental initiatives into measurable, verifiable, and tradeable asse
C² Team
Feb 104 min read
EPD (Environmental Product Declarations): Turning LCA Data into Market Advantage
EPDs are transforming how products compete in the marketplace. They're opening doors to green procurement contracts worth billions. They're differentiating commodities in crowded markets. They're turning environmental performance from a cost center into a revenue driver.
C² Team
Feb 19 min read
Understanding Carbon Credits: The Role of Carbon Credits in Sustainability
Sustainability is no longer just a buzzword. It’s a business imperative, especially for Indian corporations aiming to lead the charge toward a greener future. But how do companies actually reduce their carbon footprint while maintaining growth?
C² Team
Jan 284 min read
𝐈𝐒𝐒𝐁 𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐀𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐈𝐅𝐑𝐒 𝐒𝟐: 𝐊𝐞𝐲 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐒𝐜𝐨𝐩𝐞 𝟑 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐄𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬
The International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) has finalized targeted amendments to IFRS S2 Climate-related Disclosures as of December 2025. These changes are significant for financial institutions and companies preparing for mandatory climate reporting, specifically regarding the complex "Scope 3, Category 15" disclosures.
C² Team
Jan 32 min read
Bye Buy Carbon
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