Member & Sponsorship Policy

In Australia and globally, expectations of transparency and credibility of company’s transition pathways towards net zero are increasing. CMI’s Member and Sponsorship Policy has been developed as a pragmatic response to these increasing expectations. CMI’s new policy reinforces our commitment to the global transition and the important role that carbon markets and participants (including CMI) can play in decarbonisation and climate investments.

The policy provides a pathway for CMI to support members and sponsors to use best practice to urgently decarbonise. The tiered structure provided by the policy allows CMI to continue engage with and gain input from a broad range of stakeholders, while remaining true to our vision and managing risk for CMI and its stakeholders.

The Member and Sponsorship Policy provides members and sponsors an additional risk mitigation step to build confidence in their association with the CMI, as a membership association of like-minded entities who are similarly dedicated to credible transition pathways.

Asking for a commitment to credible transition supports CMI’s ability to convene diverse organisations at different stages in their net zero journey but all sharing a common intent toward credible transition. This strengthens our member offerings as well as ensuring CMI provides a platform for aligned organisations.

CMI recognises that the transition will be complex and varied for different organisations The tiered membership structure enables members to progress at a pace appropriate to their organisation and sector, while still having access to CMIs education and development offerings.

Full corporate membership
To be eligible for full corporate membership, all large corporations (annual revenue greater than $5 million) and carbon-intensive members (emitting greater than 100,000tCO2e Scope 1 emissions per annum) (except those qualifying for exemption as a charity or government entity) , will have a publicly available transition plan. These should address five broad criteria detailed in the policy and as informed by best practice guidance documents, including frameworks such as the International Standard Organisation’s Net Zero Guidelines. Current and prospective members are asked to self-assess their transition plans against the criteria.

Associate membership
For large corporations and/or carbon-intensive organisations whose transition plans do not meet the criteria, the Associate category of membership and associated services will be available for CMI to continue to facilitate vital knowledge sharing and education for these members. This category does not offer voting rights with respect to the Board or constitutional amendments. However, access is available to expert roundtables, events, bespoke engagement and market intelligence.

All other membership categories
Existing Associate members and Individual members will not be affected but will be encouraged to implement a transition plan that addresses best practice.

The Policy comes into effect on 1 July 2025. This means it applies immediately to new members who join on or after 1 July, and at a member’s first renewal after 1 July.

For example, if you are an existing member and your renewal date is 1 November 2025, your public facing transition plan needs to be ready on the 1 November 2025.

Members and sponsors who invoke the policy, are requested to self-assess their transition plans against the detailed criteria listed in the Policy. CMI requests members and sponsors undertake a genuine review of their public facing transition plan(s) with a view to satisfying themselves that they meet the 5 criteria in the Policy. The self-assessment needs to be approved by someone of a senior representative of the company, who has authority to bind the company.

Please note information needs to be publicly available but may be part of a larger report, not called a transition plan or contained in more than one document.

A positive result for your self-assessment is indicated by completing the declaration form on CMI’s website.

In addition, CMI’s policy continues to require support for its constitutional objectives and an acknowledgement of CMI’s Strategic Plan as well as CMI’s Advocacy Policy Positions.

Eligibility for sponsorship at the top Diamond and Platinum Partner tiers of the Australasian Emission Reduction Summit or lead partner of other major CMI events will require large corporate and/or carbon-intensive entities  to self-assess their transition plan against the listed criteria (unless they qualify for exemption as a charity or a government entity).

The start date for sponsors is based on the event date, regardless of when or whether you have a membership renewal date. For example, if you are an existing member who invokes the Policy, looking to sponsor the 12th Annual Emissions Reduction Summit as a Diamond or Platinum (or equivalent) level sponsor, you will need to meet the requirements set out in the Policy at the start of the event, on 12 August 2025.

There will be more announcements on the steps and assistance available.

If you have any questions, please contact Jen Feinstein, Membership Engagement and Outreach Manager, CMI on jen.feinstein@carbonmarketinstitute.org