Member Activities - Carbon Market Institute

CMI’s strength lies in our member interactions, spanning knowledge sharing, commercial interaction and capacity building activities.

CMI brings together corporate members with key government and industry representatives, highlighting through discussion the solutions needed to manage the risks and take advantage of opportunities in the transition to a net-zero emissions economy. We convene working groups across four thematic areas, and taskforces across three. You can find full details about the groups in the sections below.

If you are a Professional Network Member and would like to discuss upgrading to a Corporate or Associate Membership, please get in touch at info@carbonmarketinstitute.org

Members will be updated on upcoming working group dates via email.

WORKING GROUPS

Corporate Climate Leadership

FOR CORPORATE MEMBERS – BY INVITATION ONLY

This group convenes the key individuals within large corporate operators that are charged with the responsibility for defining and operationalising the organisation’s climate risk and emissions reduction strategy. This closed group (by invitation only) meets quarterly and allows individuals to learn from their peers on internal strategy managment; collaborate on practical climate action across industries; and create a climate leadership network.

Carbon Project Development

AVAILABLE TO ALL CORPORATE MEMBERS | ASSOCIATE MEMBERS BY INVITATION ONLY

This group convenes the key individuals from CMI’s carbon project development-focused corporate members. This includes land-based and industrial carbon project developers/aggregators, legal and other service providers, financiers and emissions reductions investors and procurers. This group meets as needed, and aims to build industry connections and networks; determine strategies to ensure continued market growth and sustainability; support investigation of industrial and geological emissions reductions; and identify ways to increase supply of nature-based climate solutions and abatement as aligned with Australia’s Carbon Farming Industry Roadmap.

Australian Climate Policy

AVAILABLE TO ALL CORPORATE MEMBERS | ASSOCIATE MEMBERS BY INVITATION ONLY

This group convenes all corporate members (as relevant/interested) to discuss and form industry positions as they relate to the evolution of national climate policy; market-based approaches to emissions reductions; continuity of the domestic offset scheme; input into Australia’s international climate policy; and implementing national policy to create commercial opportunity in the net-zero transition.

Meetings facilitates direct engagement between members across the economy, as well as inviting briefings from key federal and state government representatives and stakeholders. The group is issues-led, in that it is convened as necessary to refine existing policy positions for ongoing advocacy and education, or to develop new positions in response to policy developments announced or proposed by governments.

International Carbon Markets

AVAILABLE TO ALL CORPORATE MEMBERS | ASSOCIATE MEMBERS BY INVITATION ONLY

This group convenes all corporate members (as relevant/interested), to examine the impact and opportunities arising from international carbon market developments and implications for Australian business.

Meeting quarterly, the group focuses on exploring the opportunities to export Australian carbon/climate expertise, abatement and investment to the Asia Pacific region; the preparation of Australia’s carbon market to align with future carbon market linkages under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, and consideration of best practice thought leadership for promotion and implementation in the Australian market.

Group discussions also support CMI’s provision of vital business input into Australia’s policy and markets position in international fora including UNFCCC COP negotiations on Article 6, and into discussions with key trading partners in the Asia Pacific region and further afield.

TASKFORCES

Landscape Framework Taskforce

Co-Chairs:

Skye Glenday – CEO, Climate Friendly

Jenny Sinclair – Chief Scientist, GreenCollar

The Landscape Framework Taskforce has been formed to undertake the following specific activities:

Update existing land-based ERF methodologies, or if appropriate develop new methods, to correct current method errors or inconsistencies, cover additional carbon pools and provide greater flexibility in terms of eligible management changes and which are capable of rapid development and investment;
Create additional emission reduction opportunities through the updating and alignment (complementarity or stacking approach) of existing land -based methods; and
Propose additional regulatory or reporting streamlining opportunities that reduce barriers to update of existing, updated or new land-based methods.

Taskforce Formed: November 2019

For corporate members – by invitation only

View the Landscape Framework Taskforce Terms of Reference:

Blue Carbon Taskforce

Co-Chairs:

Adrian Enright – Director of Partnerships, Tasman Environmental Markets

Lauren Drake – Director, Pollination

The Blue Carbon Taskforce has been formed to explore the following specific activities, towards developing a statement of opportunities for next steps in blue carbon industry development:

Work constructively with the Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE), Clean Energy Regulator (CER), Emissions Reduction Assurance Committee (ERAC) and other relevant government agencies to ensure timely advances in blue carbon;
Collaborate with the DoEE’s Working Group on the development of a ‘reintroduction of tidal flow for restoring mangroves and tidal marshes’ blue carbon methodology;
Facilitate publication of relevant research or information that can accelerate adoption of, and investment in, blue carbon activities, e.g. mapping of blue carbon assets and pipeline potential in Australia; d. Explore opportunities to develop additional coastal ecosystem activities under ERF methodologies (review and benchmark activities overseas, eg. VCS method);
Catalyse an increase in demonstration projects in situ – proof of concept;
Examine the application of, and pathways to carbon finance in relation to blue carbon, including: developing projects to scale, private sector partnership models, criteria for blue bonds, blended finance mechanisms;
Explore co-benefits and credit stacking, including indigenous and environmental opportunities for blue carbon; and
Investigate the possibility of developing an Australian Blue Carbon Roadmap.

Taskforce Formed: December 2019

For corporate members – by invitation only

View the Blue Carbon Framework Taskforce Terms of Reference (below):

Soil Carbon Taskforce

Co-Chairs:

Louisa Kiely – Director, Carbon Farmers of Australia

Matthew Warnken – Managing Director, Agriprove

The Soil Carbon Taskforce has been formed to undertake the following specific activities:

Lead industry contributions to Government’s priority focus on Soil Carbon ERF methodologies, to update or if appropriate develop new methods, to correct current method errors or inconsistencies, provide greater flexibility in terms of eligible management changes and allow for innovation in technology for measurement and modelling (including remote sensing platforms);
Maximise the policy opportunity for soil carbon by working with relevant agencies such as Department of Industry Science Energy and Resources on their work program, including budget allocations for soil data acquisition, in addition to State and Federal agricultural departments;
Engage with Australian Renewable Energy Agency and Clean Energy Finance Corporation to address barriers and promote opportunities for funding soil carbon projects; and
Engage with Australia’s main-stream finance industry to communicate the operation of soil carbon methods and co-benefit opportunities and address barriers to gaining financial Eligible Interest Holder Consent for project participants. (In doing so, the Taskforce will coordinate with other financial sector CMI initiatives.)

Taskforce Formed: January 2020

For corporate members – by invitation only

View the Soil Carbon Taskforce terms of reference below: