Overview
The Australian Carbon Credit Unit (ACCU) Scheme is a government-regulated program that issues tradable carbon credits for verified emissions reductions or removals, helping businesses and the nation meet climate targets through credible, measurable abatement.
The ACCU Scheme plays an important role in Australia’s net zero transition. It is a voluntary scheme that supports Australian landholders, communities and businesses to cut their greenhouse gas emissions and increase carbon storage.
We are proposing two new savanna fire management methods to account for carbon abatement from fire management in northern Australia. These methods will allow projects to earn credits for carbon stored in living trees and standing dead trees, alongside carbon sequestered in debris and avoided emissions. To support this, we have developed a new tool—SavCAM—which is available for testing at Savtools.
The two methods are the:
Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative – Savanna Fire Management – Sequestration and Emissions Avoidance) Methodology Determination 2025 (the savanna sequestration and avoidance method)
Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative – Savanna Fire Management – Emissions Avoidance) Methodology Determination 2025 (the savanna emissions avoidance method)
We have released consultation materials for the savanna sequestration and avoidance method early to provide additional time for stakeholders to familiarise themselves with the method. Subject to approval by the Emissions Reduction Assurance Committee (ERAC), materials for the savanna emissions avoidance method will be released, possibly in early October.
The proposed new savanna sequestration and avoidance method builds on existing savanna fire management methods by:
Expanding crediting to include carbon sequestration in living biomass and dead standing biomass, in addition to dead organic matter in fallen debris.
Allowing existing emissions avoidance projects to be credited for accumulated sequestered carbon if they transfer to the new method and commit to permanence obligations.
Extending the baseline period to 20 years for new projects to improve accuracy.
Introducing a practical and science-based approach to weed management, particularly for invasive species like gamba grass.
Formalising capacity building fire management to support participation by First Nations communities and other landholders.
Continuing to apply sequestration buffers (25% for 25-year projects, 5% for 100-year projects) to ensure durability of credited carbon.
Before the Minister can make a method under the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) Act 2011 (the Act), they must seek advice from the independent Emissions Reduction Assurance Committee (ERAC) for advice. If the ERAC finds the method does not meet the legislated integrity standards, the Minister cannot approve it. Before providing that advice, ERAC must publish a detailed outline of the proposed method and invite public submissions through the department’s website.
For an outline of the savanna sequestration and avoidance method, see the Exposure Draft and Explanatory Statement.
The ERAC will formally invite public submissions on the proposed savanna sequestration and emissions avoidance method, and the emissions avoidance-only method, for a 28-day period together, possibly commencing in October. At that time we will publish a notice that formal public consultation (in accordance with section 123D of the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) Act 2011) by the ERAC on the two new draft savanna methods has commenced. The feedback will inform the ERAC’s assessment of whether the methods meet the legislated Offset Integrity Standards.
For the proposed new savanna sequestration and avoidance method, the ERAC is especially interested to hear views on whether allowing existing emissions avoidance projects to earn credits for stored carbon – if they switch to the new method and commit to permanence – would lead to genuine, additional abatement.
The department has prepared supplementary material to assist stakeholders to work through the proposed new savanna sequestration and avoidance method and highlight key issues for feedback during consultation. The department will update this material once the savanna emissions avoidance method is released.