Minister for Climate Change and Energy, the Hon Chris Bowen MP
Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy, the Hon Josh Wilson MP
The Albanese Government has improved Australia's carbon crediting scheme (ACCUs) with the release of the 2024 Environmental Plantings method.
The new method allows proponents to obtain carbon credits by establishing plantings of forests native to the local area, or through mallee plantings.
It updates the method first introduced in 2014, which expired in September.
Proponents must demonstrate that the species they intend to plant, and their management approach, is likely to achieve and maintain forest cover, even with a changing climate.
The updated method improves the integrity of registered projects and makes the method easier to use, with key changes enabling participants to:
- Prepare for planting and get underway sooner
- Harvest seed to enable more plantings of native trees
- Enhance biodiversity
Improvements to measurement tools mean proponents now also have more flexibility to space trees as needed, making projects easier and faster to plant.
Proponents can now apply to the Clean Energy Regulator to register new projects or transfer existing projects that are currently registered under the expired method.
