Climate cooperation is becoming a new pillar of the India–Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership. Discuss.

The India–Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership has long rested on infrastructure, investment and Indo-Pacific security. It is now gaining a climate pillar. On 30 September 2026 the two countries launched the Operational Manual for the bilateral Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM) under Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement. This moved their cooperation from intent to implementation [1].

Evidence of an emerging pillar

• Step-by-step institution-building: the Memorandum of Cooperation (Aug 2025) was followed by the Rules of Implementation (Jun 2026) and then the Operational Manual. The Manual covers the full project cycle, from the Project Idea Note to the issuance of credits [1].
• Joint governance: a Joint Committee with members from both governments registers projects and authorises credits as ITMOs (Internationally Transferred Mitigation Outcomes) [2].
• Focus on new technology: India's Article 6.2 positive list names green hydrogen, compressed bio-gas, offshore wind, sustainable aviation fuel and CCUS. This list shapes the agenda for Japanese technology [3].

Why it matters

• Economic: the JCM brings climate finance and advanced low-carbon technology to India, and gives Japanese clean-tech firms a market [1].
• Strategic: it adds green technology to the bilateral agenda. India takes part as a host country under Article 6.2, not only as a recipient of multilateral aid.
• Global governance: it aims to build confidence and transparency in international carbon markets [1].

Challenges

• NDC trade-off: under corresponding adjustments, tonnes transferred to Japan cannot count towards India's own NDC [2]. India limits this risk by leaving plain solar and wind off the list. Renewables qualify only for their stored component [3].
• Integrity: a UNFCCC review of Mongolia's JCM found missing authorisation documents and unclear baselines. It warned that corresponding adjustments alone could still lead to a net increase in global emissions [4].
• Registry gaps: under the current JCM registry rules, a credit's serial number does not have to show whether it is authorised or what its vintage is [4].
• Perception: critics see a CDM-style offset in which a rich country meets its target cheaply on a developing country's land.

Climate cooperation now has institutions, rules and a project pipeline, which is what makes it a real pillar. To keep it credible, MoEFCC should publish every authorisation, require conservative baselines and use only the upgraded registry that meets decision 6/CMA.4 [2]. Done well, the JCM can link Japanese capital and technology to India's low-carbon transition and advance SDG 13 and SDG 17. That would make the partnership truly "global" in substance.