Climate Active is an Australian Government program. It drives Australian businesses to make voluntary climate action. It supports our national climate policy.
Climate Active certification is awarded to businesses that have reached a state of carbon neutrality – based on an agreed emissions boundary for a specific certification type. Certification is available for:
- buildings
- events
- organisations
- precincts
- products and services.
Certification showcases your carbon neutral status and helps the community take individual action by supporting brands that are taking steps to reduce their emissions.
To understand the benefits, visit the Climate Active website
Certification for buildings is available through the National Australian Built Environment Rating System (NABERS) or the Green Building Council of Australia.
Certification for events, organisations, precincts, products and services is available through the department.
Program direction consultation
The landscape for credible voluntary climate action is changing. For this reason, in 2023, we ran a public consultation on proposed reforms to Climate Active.
The consultation paper and public submissions are available on the consultation hub.
Climate Active continues to process certifications in line with the current standard.
Climate Active Carbon Neutral Standard
For your entity to be certified you must meet the requirements of the Climate Active Carbon Neutral Standard.
Achieving the standard
To become carbon neutral, businesses and organisations:
- calculate the greenhouse gas emissions generated by their activity, such as fuel or electricity use and travel
- reduce these emissions where possible by investing in new technology or changing the way they operate
- offset any remaining emissions by purchasing carbon offset units.
Once you have balanced your emissions you have reached a state called ‘carbon neutral’ and can be certified.
Assistance to gain certification
The Climate Active website has a range of resources to help you become certified. Guidance is available to cover the step-by-step processes for each certification category, calculating your emission boundary, purchasing and reporting on offsets, and compliance procedures.
Visit the Climate Active website for more information and view our Tools and Resources page for additional guidance material.
Our department’s role
Our department administers carbon neutral certification and maintains the Climate Active Carbon Neutral Standard, the framework that underpins that certification.
Read more
- Visit the Climate Active website