India ranks 5th globally for forest carbon sequestration, absorbing around 150 million metric tons of CO2 annually through long-term afforestation and conservation efforts. Driven by programs like the Green India Mission and robust forest cover growth, this achievement strengthens India’s contribution to global climate action and its Paris Agreement targets.
Environment Pulse Desk: India ranks 5th in the world for removing carbon through forests; this shows that India has become more involved in the international effort to combat climate change. According to the FAO’s Global Forest Resources Assessment 2025 and corresponding emissions and removals data, during the years 2021-2025, India’s forests were absorbing approximately 150 million metric tons of carbon dioxide per year.
The above places the nation second only to Russia (approx. 1,150 million tons), China (approx. 840 million tons), USA (approx. 410 million tons), and Brazil (approx. 340 million tons). Belarus is equivalent to India at approx. 150 million tons. Together, the top 10 nations represent approximately 90% of total forest carbon sequestration globally.
The global picture
The world’s forests removed an average of approximately 3.6 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide each year from forest lands during the same time frame. After accounting for deforestation, however, the net removal of CO2 dropped to around 0.8 billion metric tons per year – nearly half what was being removed a decade earlier. Europe and Asia had the greatest amounts of CO2 removed by forests; while the Americas and Africa experienced the highest levels of CO2 emitted due to forest loss.
What is behind India’s performance
India’s performance is reflective of long-term efforts on afforestation, reforestation, and conservation. Currently, India has the ninth largest total forest area globally, as well as the third highest annual net increase in forest area. According to the India State of Forest Report 2023, the total forest area in India covers 7,15,343 square kilometers which accounts for approximately 21.76 percent of the country’s land mass. Programs such as the Green India Mission, the National Afforestation Programme, compensatory afforestation programs and community-based plantation programs have collectively contributed to increasing both the number of trees and the amount of carbon stored within them.
The forests serve many functions beyond storing carbon, including supporting biodiversity, regulating water flow, protecting soils and providing sustenance for millions of people that rely on them. Additionally, this achievement aligns with India’s promise in the Paris Agreement to develop a new carbon sink that will contain between 2.5 and 3 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalent by 2030.
Challenges that remain
Although experts caution that the ranking, although positive, does not mean we should now let down our guard. There is still a risk to the quality of forests in some areas due to rapid urbanization, development of infrastructure and competition for land. To expand the “carbon sink,” it will be important to maintain existing forests in a dense and healthy state, restore damaged lands, and bring additional trees into agricultural land.
The government’s programs are being scaled up in response. The revised Green India Mission is focused on significantly increasing forest and tree coverage; the Nagar Van Yojana is designed to promote urban forests; and the Mangrove Initiative is working to strengthen coastal ecosystems. In addition, the amount of money allocated to the environmental/forest sector has continued to increase.
The fact that India has become an important carbon sink demonstrates how long-term, large-scale forest conservation can have a positive effect on climate change in an area with a high population density and developing economy. The 150 million metric tons of CO2 absorbed annually by India’s forests is much more than just a national accomplishment; it is a significant contributor to the stabilization of our planet, which must continue to receive funding for expanding its green cover so that future generations can benefit.
Also Read: Childhood Toll from Traffic Pollution: The Hidden Cost in Gurugram
