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September 2026 Climate Brief: CCTS Nears First Trades, CBAM Widens, BRSR Core Counts Down
India's CCTS moves from compliance filing towards its first exchange trades, EU finance ministers back extending CBAM across 180-plus downstream products, and BRSR Core assurance is one cycle from the top 1,000. Our September 2026 brief covers what changed across India's carbon market, CBAM, Article 6.4, voluntary market integrity and the road to COP31 in Antalya.
C² Team
5 days ago6 min read
How to Trade Carbon Credit Certificates in India: The CERC 2026 Rulebook Explained
India's carbon market finally has a trading rulebook. The CERC Regulations, 2026 set out how Carbon Credit Certificates move on power exchanges: two market segments, monthly sessions, floor and forbearance price bands, and a default rule that can bar an entity for six months. Here is what obligated and non-obligated companies should set up before the first session.
C² Team
Aug 316 min read
Carbon Credits and Decarbonization for India's Aluminium Sector in 2026: CCTS Targets Meet CBAM Costs
India's aluminium industry is now the country's most carbon-exposed export sector: binding CCTS intensity targets at home, a EUR 75-plus CBAM certificate price in Europe, and unwrought aluminium shipments to the EU already down nearly 42% year on year. Here is what the numbers mean, which abatement levers move them, and where carbon credits legitimately fit.
C² Team
Aug 106 min read
Carbon Credits and Decarbonization for India's Chemicals and Petrochemicals Sector in 2026
Chlor-alkali was notified under CCTS in October 2025 and petrochemicals followed in January 2026, putting India's chemicals sector squarely inside the country's first compliance carbon market. Add CBAM exposure through fertilisers and chemicals exports, and the sector now faces two carbon regimes at once. Here is what your targets mean, which abatement levers actually move them, and where carbon credits legitimately fit.
C² Team
Aug 55 min read
August 2026 Climate Brief: CCTS Compliance Filed, CBAM's Free-Allocation Rethink, and the Road to First Trades
India's first CCTS compliance filings are in, Brussels has proposed stretching free EU ETS allocation out to 2038, and BRSR Core assurance widens to the top 1,000 next year. Our August 2026 brief unpacks what actually changed across India's carbon market, EU CBAM, Article 6.4 and voluntary market integrity - plus five things Indian companies should act on this quarter.
C² Team
Aug 35 min read
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
Jul 275 min read
Carbon Credits and Decarbonization for Pharma Companies in India: Scope 3, PSCI Audits and Net Zero in 2026
Indian pharma exporters face net-zero pressure from every direction in 2026: NHS carbon reduction plan deadlines, PSCI audits, BRSR Core assurance and Scope 3 data demands from global buyers. Here is a practical decarbonization roadmap for pharmaceutical companies in India — and where verified carbon credits fit once reductions are underway.
C² Team
Jul 264 min read
SBTi Net-Zero Standard V2.0 (2026): What the New Science-Based Targets Rules Mean for Indian Companies
On 11 June 2026 the SBTi published its Corporate Net-Zero Standard V2.0 — the biggest overhaul of science-based target setting yet. Here is what changes for Indian companies on company categories, Scope 3, carbon removals and the 2027-2028 timeline, plus a practical checklist to prepare and align with BRSR, CBAM and CCTS.
C² Team
Jun 153 min read
How to Build a Net Zero Baseline in 90 Days: A Practical Plan for Indian Companies
Most Net Zero commitments fail at the same place: an unreliable baseline. This 90-day plan walks Indian sustainability and finance teams through scoping, data collection, calculation, and assurance-ready documentation, so the baseline you publish in your Net Zero statement holds up when SBTi, auditors, and your largest customers come asking.
C² Team
May 253 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
The Hidden Emissions in Chemical Manufacturing That Most Companies Aren't Reporting
Most chemical manufacturers report Scope 1 and 2 emissions accurately but completely miss the Scope 3 footprint hiding in their value chain. This guide unpacks the categories most commonly under-reported by Indian chemical companies — feedstocks, transportation, end-of-life, and capital goods — and what to do about them before BRSR and CBAM auditors come knocking.
C² Team
Apr 34 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
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
Scope 3 Calculation Mistakes That Inflate Your Carbon Footprint
Most companies report Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions with reasonable confidence. The data sources are internal, the boundaries are clear, and the calculation is relatively straightforward. But Scope 3 — the emissions that live across your entire value chain, from raw material suppliers to the end-users of your products — is a different story entirely. Scope 3 can account for up to 90% of a company's total greenhouse gas footprint. Yet it remains the most inaccurately reported
C² Team
Feb 188 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
Quick Wins: 15 Immediate Actions to Reduce Emissions
Beyond Carbon Credits: The Power of Operational Emissions Reduction When organizations begin their sustainability journey, they often focus immediately on carbon credits, offset portfolios, and ESG reporting frameworks. While these are crucial components of a comprehensive climate strategy—and core to what Csquare specializes in—there's a foundational step that many overlook: reducing actual emissions at the source. Before purchasing carbon credits or reporting through BRSR,
C² Team
Feb 1612 min read
Green Taxonomy Quick Guide: Understanding the EU Taxonomy vs. Indian Sustainable Finance Framework
A Comprehensive Comparison for Businesses Navigating Cross-Border Sustainable Finance
As sustainable finance regulations evolve globally, businesses are increasingly finding themselves at the intersection of multiple frameworks. At Csquare, we've worked with numerous organizations grappling with a critical question: How do the EU Taxonomy and India's sustainable finance framework compare, and what does this mean for our operations?
C² Team
Feb 1510 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
Net-Zero Terminology Cheat Sheet: Your Complete Guide to Carbon Neutral, Net-Zero, and Climate Positive
Introduction: Cutting Through the Climate Jargon In today's business landscape, climate commitments are no longer optional—they're expected. Investors scrutinize ESG performance, customers demand transparency, and regulations are tightening globally. Yet despite this urgency, confusion around climate terminology remains one of the biggest barriers to meaningful action. Is your organization carbon neutral, working toward net-zero, or aiming for climate positive? More important
C² Team
Feb 1211 min read
The Complete Guide to Scope 1, 2, and 3 Emissions: Everything Your Organization Needs to Know
Understanding Scope 1, 2, and 3 Emissions: A Comprehensive Guide by CSquare Carbon In today's business landscape, understanding and managing carbon emissions isn't just good for the planet—it's essential for competitive advantage, regulatory compliance, and stakeholder trust. At CSquare Carbon , we've worked with countless organizations navigating the complexities of carbon accounting, and one of the most fundamental concepts every company needs to master is the three-scope f
C² Team
Feb 118 min read
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