There are various carbon market and carbon farming schemes across Australia which have relevance to the Code of Conduct, including at national and sub-national levels. Schemes of particular relevance, and that have formally recognised the Code of Conduct as a best practice consumer protection tool, are detailed below.
Emissions Reductions Fund
To be eligible for Australia’s Emissions Reduction Fund (ERF), participants are required to maintain fit and proper person (FPP) status.
In deciding if a participant is fit and proper, the Clean Energy Regulator (CER) takes into consideration the participant’s capability, competency, integrity and good character – including whether or not the participant is a Signatory to the Carbon Industry Code of Conduct.
More information can be found here.
A number of Australian States and Territories administer sub-national carbon farming schemes which generally seek to increase investment in carbon and co-benefit projects in their jurisdictions.
The sub-national schemes listed below have recognised the importance of the Code of Conduct in supporting industry best practice, integrity, trust, accountability and transparency. These schemes require Code Signatory status as an eligibility requirement to participate, and include support research and development, co-financing projects, and supporting access to advice relating to carbon projects.
The Queensland Government’s Land Restoration Fund (LRF) is expanding carbon farming in the state by supporting land-sector carbon projects that deliver additional environmental, socio-economic and First Nations co-benefits.
The LRF supports carbon farming in Queensland via two pathways:
The LRF also has an Approved Adviser Program and Carbon Farming Advice Rebate Program. The Programs aim to create a network of experienced Advisers throughout Queensland by training and approving professional Advisers to assist landholders with carbon farming and LRF advice.
Carbon project developers wishing to become Approved Advisers under the LRF are required to work for an organisation that is a Signatory to the Carbon Industry Code of Conduct.
Find out more here.
The Western Australian Government’s Carbon Farming and Land Restoration Program aims to realise agriculture’s potential to sequester carbon in the landscape and contribute to growing the state’s carbon market.
The Program supports carbon farming in Western Australia through:
All carbon service providers participating in any capacity (i.e. project proponent, developer or advisor) in the CF-LRP must be a Signatory to the Carbon Industry Code of Conduct.
Find out more here.
Tasmania’s Carbon Farming Advice Rebate Pilot Program provides primary producers with rebates of up to $10,000 for advice sought about the costs and benefits of accessing carbon credits, auditing requirements, and on-ground actions that are eligible for carbon credits.
Approved Advisers that are project developers (including carbon agents, aggregators and carbon service providers) must work for a company that is a Signatory to the Code of Conduct.
Find out more here.
