Walking together for nature, climate and history repair
As an independent, member-based institute accelerating the transition to net-zero emissions, a central component of the Carbon Market Institute’s (CMI) mission is to champion best practice in an inclusive transition that delivers social, economic, and environmental benefits to communities. CMI supports and respects the internationally proclaimed human rights of First Nations as enshrined in numerous international commitments, and through Australia’s endorsement of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People (UNDRIP).
CMI, both as an organisation, and as a group of diverse individuals, has a responsibility to contribute to national reconciliation and advocate for and uphold the rights and interests of Indigenous peoples as Traditional Owners and custodians of the land. As a national body, CMI is in a unique and influential position to leverage its strong relations with its diverse membership base and networks to further drive Indigenous recognition and reconciliation.
CMI’s Reconciliation Journey
Over its history, CMI has prioritised the inclusion and elevation of diverse voices through our activities, including our events schedule, taskforces and working groups, research & reports, as well as external communication channels.
CMI has built solid relationships with Indigenous stakeholders and Indigenous-led organisations, as well as maintaining an Indigenous membership base, which creates a strong foundation on which to deepen our future engagement. CMI aims to ensure that there is a strong Indigenous voice included in all dialogues around Australian carbon markets, while also expanding our connection with First Nations peoples overseas through international fora. Our reconciliation journey has been, and will continue to be, one of progressive improvement.
To date, CMI’s reconciliation journey and support of Indigenous participation in carbon markets has included:
- Advocacy and support for carbon projects that directly include and contribute benefits to Indigenous communities
- Advocacy and support for carbon farming methodologies that directly incorporate Indigenous ecological knowledge,[1] in particular savanna burning
- Procurement of carbon credit units that support Indigenous land management practices (including procurement of Indigenous ACCUs for Climate Active certification).
- Uplifting best practice industry standards for engaging with Native Title Holders and Claimants, through the Australian Carbon Industry Code of Conduct (Code)
- Establishing respectful relationships and engagement with Indigenous-led organisations, and Indigenous representative groups, through roundtables and events
- Supporting direct engagement of Code signatories with Indigenous-led organisations in the carbon market (eg. Training on FPIC) and more listed in the document.
