Now, PMC on the lookout for carbon trading experts

After successfully running its solid waste management plants across the city to reduce emission of greenhouse gases, now the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) is hoping to gain carbon credit from this initiative and sell it in the open market to avail funding and extend its efforts to dispose solid waste.

The PMC is looking for an expert agency with demonstrable skills in consultancy of carbon trading either in the field of clean development mechanism (CDM) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) or through other voluntary trading channels.

Speaking to DNA, head of the solid waste management department of the PMC, Suresh Jagtap said, “To keep the city clean and protect the environment from greenhouse gases, we are running 33 waste processing plants across the city. We have limited landfill sites to dump garbage, while the quantity of garbage is increasing. At present, the garbage generation of the city is around 1,400 metric tonnes. However, now the time has come for PMC to apply for funds by selling its carbon credit in the open market. Hence, we want an expert agency as consultant for the PMC about the entire procedure of gaining carbon credit.”

The agency will have to formulate the methodology, prepare reports to make PMC eligible for claiming carbon credit benefit. Besides this, the agency will have to prepare project documents, conduct local stakeholders’ meetings, obtain host country approval from Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF), assist in registration with the UNFCCC or through other trading mechanisms.

The funds sought by selling carbon credit in the open market can be used for development projects of solid waste management and keeping the city clean.

Jagtap added, “Around six months ago, we floated a tender for inviting expert consultants. However, we received no response. So, this time we relaxed some conditions in the tender and floated it afresh.”