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Our Programs

Our full program portfolio, translating SCRF's research and policy expertise into direct market, institutional, and government impact, anchored in India and extending across the Global South.

Our Work

Our Programs

Our full program portfolio, translating SCRF's research and policy expertise into direct market, institutional, and government impact, anchored in India and extending across the Global South.

India Carbon Markets Initiative (ICMI)

Program 01 · Carbon Markets & Domestic Climate Policy

ICMI is SCRF's flagship program on the design, development, and governance of India's domestic carbon market. India's Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS), notified under the Energy Conservation Act, represents one of the most significant market-based climate policy developments in Asia. ICMI provides independent, technically rigorous research to support its credible implementation.

Program Objectives
Analyse CCTS sector coverage, compliance thresholds, and baseline-setting methodologies
Develop MRV technical guidance for covered sectors including steel, cement, and aluminium
Evaluate registry design, price stability mechanisms, and linkage feasibility with international markets
Support voluntary carbon market development alongside the compliance framework
MoEFCCBureau of Energy EfficiencyBISTERI
Program Outputs
CCTS Sector-by-Sector Technical Guides
MRV Methodology Papers
Policy Consultation Submissions
India Carbon Market Data Reports (Quarterly)
Stakeholder Roundtable Reports
International Comparisons & Case Studies

Green Finance for India

Program 02 · Sustainable Finance & Capital Mobilisation

India requires an estimated $2.5 trillion in climate finance by 2030. Green Finance for India examines the architecture of green capital, from SEBI's green bond framework and RBI's sustainable lending guidelines to the development of India's sovereign green bond programme and the emerging green taxonomy.

Program Objectives
Assess the quality and additionality of India's green bond issuances against international benchmarks
Develop recommendations for India's green taxonomy design aligned with SEBI and MoF priorities
Analyse blended finance structures and DFI co-investment models for Indian climate infrastructure
Map climate finance flows and identify gaps in India's sustainable finance ecosystem
SEBIReserve Bank of IndiaMinistry of Finance
Program Outputs
India Green Finance State of the Market (Annual)
Green Taxonomy Recommendations Report
SEBI/RBI Consultation Response Papers
Blended Finance Case Study Series
Climate Finance Flows Data Dashboard

Sustainable MSMEs Program

Program 03 · MSME Green Transition & Finance

India's 63 million MSMEs account for 30% of GDP, 40% of exports, and over 110 million jobs. They also face enormous pressure from the green transition, from CBAM-linked supply chain requirements to domestic sustainability disclosure obligations. This program helps MSMEs navigate, finance, and benefit from the green transition.

Program Objectives
Map sustainability finance barriers and access gaps for MSMEs across key sectors and regions
Develop frameworks for MSME participation in India's voluntary and compliance carbon markets
Support SIDBI and scheduled banks in designing green MSME lending products
Engage the Ministry of MSME on regulatory simplification for green transition compliance
Ministry of MSMESIDBICIIFICCI
Program Outputs
MSME Green Finance Access Study
CBAM Exposure & Preparedness Assessment
MSME Carbon Credit Participation Guide
Policy Briefs for Ministry of MSME

Global South Climate Finance Initiative

Program 04 · Emerging Market Climate Finance

Emerging economies across Asia, Africa, and Latin America face a common challenge: ambitious climate commitments with insufficient market infrastructure, policy frameworks, and capital to deliver them. This program advances carbon market development, transition finance architecture, and climate policy frameworks across the Global South, engaging multilateral institutions, regional development banks, and sovereign policymakers to ensure emerging economies shape and benefit from the global sustainability transition.

Program Objectives
Map carbon market readiness and transition finance gaps across key emerging market economies
Develop comparative policy frameworks for voluntary and compliance carbon market design outside developed markets
Engage multilateral and regional development banks on blended finance structures for emerging market climate infrastructure
Produce sovereign-level transition finance assessments for Global South policymakers
World Bank GroupADBUNFCCCUNCTAD
Program Outputs
Emerging Market Carbon Market Readiness Index
Global South Transition Finance Gap Report
Multilateral Engagement Briefs
Comparative Carbon Policy Framework Studies

India Net-Zero Pathways

Program 05 · Sector Decarbonisation Roadmaps

India's 2070 net-zero commitment requires deep, sector-by-sector transformation. This program develops rigorous, evidence-based decarbonisation roadmaps for India's hard-to-abate sectors, informing policy design, investment decisions, and corporate strategy for one of the world's most consequential emerging-market climate transitions.

Sectors Covered
Steel: Green hydrogen DRI pathways, EAF transition, scrap availability, CBAM implications
Cement: Clinker substitution, CCUS feasibility, kiln fuel switching, alternative binders
Agriculture: Soil carbon sequestration, methane reduction, farm-level carbon accounting
Power: Storage economics, grid flexibility, just transition in coal-dependent states
NITI AayogMoEFCCIIT Network
Program Outputs
India Steel Decarbonisation Roadmap
India Cement Net-Zero Pathways Report
Agri-Carbon Sequestration Potential Study
Power Sector Just Transition Policy Brief
Government Engagement

SCRF Policy Lab

The Policy Lab is SCRF's formal government engagement cell, the mechanism through which our research reaches policymakers, regulators, and parliamentary committees in structured, documented form.

We do not lobby. We provide evidence-based analysis, respond to formal consultations, submit technical comments on draft regulations, and facilitate structured dialogues between government officials and expert practitioners.

50+Policy submissions
12Ministries engaged
8Regulatory responses

Recent Policy Engagements

CCTS Draft Notification: Technical Comments

Engaging Ministry of Power and Bureau of Energy Efficiency on sector-level implementation

SEBI Green Bond Framework: Consultation Response

Engaging SEBI on strengthening use-of-proceeds verification standards

BRSR Core Disclosure Standards: Recommendations

Engaging SEBI on SME-proportionate disclosure frameworks

National Action Plan on Climate Change: Written Evidence

Engaging the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Energy on climate finance architecture

India's Updated NDC: Technical Input

Engaging MoEFCC on NDC sector targets and carbon market alignment

Stay Informed

The SCRF Research Digest

Monthly intelligence on carbon markets, sustainable finance, and climate policy, distilled from our research, field engagements, and global market developments by the SCRF team.