The Carbon Market Institute (CMI) has welcomed the Australian Government’s consultation on proposed improvements to the Soil Organic Carbon Method following the Emissions Reduction Assurance Committee’s (ERAC) periodic review, saying it demonstrates Australia’s carbon market integrity framework is operating as intended.
CMI Chief Executive Officer Sasha Courville said periodic, independent reviews and continual improvement are a fundamental strength of the ACCU Scheme, ensuring methods continue to reflect the latest science and practical, project-level experience as Australia’s carbon market matures. The ERAC found that the Soil Organic Carbon Method continues to satisfy five of the six Offsets Integrity Standards, recommending targeted changes to ensure crediting remains appropriately conservative where some reported rates of soil carbon accumulation exceed those supported by current peer-reviewed scientific literature.
“The ACCU Scheme was designed to evolve alongside advances in science, technology and experience. Regular reviews such as this are an important feature of a high-integrity carbon market and help ensure Australia’s carbon crediting framework remains credible, transparent and fit for purpose.”
“The Committee’s recommendations and Government’s prompt consultation demonstrate that the integrity framework is working as intended. Independent expert oversight, regular reviews and evidence-based improvements are exactly what gives investors, landholders and the community confidence in the Scheme.”
CMI noted that soil carbon projects play a vital role in Australia’s climate response and provide significant opportunities for farmers to diversify income while improving the resilience and productivity of agricultural landscapes.
“Soil carbon remains one of Australia’s most important nature-based carbon opportunities. Beyond generating carbon credits, well-managed soil carbon projects can contribute to healthier soils, improved water retention, greater drought resilience and stronger farm businesses and productivity.”
CMI supports the Committee’s focus on ensuring crediting remains conservative and scientifically robust, while recognising the importance of maintaining confidence for existing project proponents who have participated in the Scheme in good faith under the approved methodology.
“Any changes should be implemented in a way that preserves confidence in the Scheme, provides certainty for existing participants and continues to encourage investment in soil carbon across Australia.”
“With more than 800 active soil carbon projects across Australia, maintaining confidence in this method is critical. We need policy settings that uphold integrity while providing certainty for landholders who have invested in projects under the existing rules.”
CMI said the proposed annual reporting of aggregate project performance and continued improvements to measurement, sampling protocols and transparency would further strengthen confidence in the Scheme over time. CMI said the recommendations reinforce the importance of ongoing investment in soil carbon science, data collection, measurement technologies and method development.
“As scientific understanding continues to improve, Australia’s methods should continue to evolve. This is how high-integrity carbon markets maintain confidence over the long term.”
CMI looks forward to working with the Australian Government, ERAC, the Clean Energy Regulator, researchers and industry to support implementation of the review recommendations and throughout the consultation period.
