The Bengal Chamber of Commerce & Industry (BCC&I) with Meensou India organized an ‘Experience Workshop’ on Decarbonization and Carbon Credit on 24th February 2024 at The Bengal Chamber premises followed by a live site visit of Carbon Sink and demonstration of the Blue Carbon Credit Project at Gangasagar, Sunderbans on 26th February 2024.

BCC&I, with Meensou India and EcoAct, has commenced a major Blue Carbon Credit project in the Sunderbans Island. The project aims to plant 1,40,00,000 mangrove plants in 4000 ha of land which is 3500 plants/ha. A Delegation from Ecoact, with expertise on cook stove, came from France.

The workshop on 24th February 2024 included understanding of 

• Creating Carbon Sink

• Voluntary Carbon Market

• Carbon Offset Market

• Low cost technologies for environmental and social benefits

• Carbon Financing

• Case Studies on Cook Stove and Blue Carbon Project

A key feature was how to be prepared for Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) for European Union (EU) Market. 

Shri M K De, IAS (Retd), Former Chief Secretary to the Government of West Bengal and Chairperson, BCC&I Sustainability Forum was present at the Opening along with Mr. Gautam Ray, President, BCC&I and Mr. Ashok Zutshi, Advisor & Board Member, Meensou India. 

Demonstrations were given by Mr. Soumya Darshan Pradhan, Founder, CEO & MD of Meensou India, Ms. Amie Nevin, Carbon Project Development Manager (Community Based), EcoAct, France, and Mr. Vinay Singh, Lead Auditor, Meensou India

The Delegation of participants were taken for the live visit of Carbon Sink and demonstration of the Blue Carbon Credit Project at Gangasagar, Sunderbans on 26th February. Participants from  PSUs, SOE and large corporates from different parts of countries represented IOCL, NTPC Limited, Tata Steel, ITC Limited, WBPDCL and Larsen & Toubro etc. 

Breakfast and team building exercise were hosted at Jagriti Dham, assisted living facility for senior citizens, of Infinity Group near Joka on the way.

This visit included: 

• Crossing Muriganga River to reach Gangasagar from Kakdwip
• Participating in Community Lunch
• Local Community Engagement
• Demonstration on Cook Stove for local community engagement
• Interacting with Overseas Delegates
• Visit to the Live Site of Carbon Sink and Demonstration of the Blue Carbon Credit Project at the site where the saplings of Garjan (Rhizophora apiculata) and Kakra (Bruguiera gymnorhiza), both mangrove species, have started growing since their plantation began in November 2023.

As the UNSDGs signify inter relationships of the dynamics of socio-economic and environmental parameters; our project's uniqueness is livelihood creation along with climate change mitigation involving women and youths in the plantation project thereby also addressing gender parity and youth empowerment.