IDE India, led by 2005 Skoll social entrepreneur Amitabha Sadangi, recently received carbon credit certification from TUV Nord Cert, a German-based certification entity that operates within the European Union’s cap and trade system.  Based on its low-cost drip irrigation systems that leverage manually operated foot pumps rather than diesel pumps, IDE has received credits for over 52,000 tons of carbon dioxide for the 2005-2007 period.  It plans to expand this program going forward.

This is a great example of how the work of social entrepreneurs often cut across important social and environmental issue areas in a self-reinforcing way.  IDE-India is focused on breaking the cycle of rural poverty in India.  But because of its emphasis on sustainability, this also has positive knock-on effects on climate change.

Tapping into the global carbon credit trading market will also give IDE-India a new source of income to support its efforts on the ground.  Innovative stuff.