Independent Review of ACCUs - implementation

Now open for public consultation

We are seeking your feedback on proposed changes to the Australian Carbon Credit Unit (ACCU) Scheme. These changes aim to maintain the ongoing integrity of the Scheme and support Australia's carbon market.
The consultations will inform how we can improve the ACCU Scheme through legislative changes and better practices to maintain a high level of integrity.

Submit your written feedback through our consultation portal on Have your say.

Submissions close AEST 10am Tuesday 3 October 2023.

Regional, remote and First Nations stakeholders can receive support for travel costs for in-person workshop attendance. For information on how to apply, read supporting remote, rural and First Nations workshop participants.

Achieving emission reductions

The Australian Government is strengthening the Australian Carbon Credit Unit (ACCU) Scheme by implementing the recommendations of the Independent Review of Australian Carbon Credit Units.

We aim to improve the Scheme’s transparency and to support new and effective emission reduction practices to help Australia reach net zero by 2050.

We welcome feedback on implementing the next phase of ACCU Review recommendations and reforms, focused on:

new ACCU Scheme Principles
information publication requirements
defining the ongoing role of the Commonwealth Government as a purchaser of ACCUs
delivering a new process for method development
identifying Integrity Committee functions
establishing appropriate consent requirements for Native Title consent to projects.

Recommended changes to the ACCU Scheme

The 2022 Independent Review of ACCUs made 16 recommendations to further improve the ACCU Scheme. The recommendations aim to:

clarify Scheme governance
improve Scheme transparency
facilitate positive project outcomes and co-benefits, and
enhance confidence in the integrity and effectiveness of the scheme.

The Australian Government is taking next steps to implement the changes

The Government accepted all recommendations from the ACCU Review in principle with implementation already underway:

The Safeguard Mechanism reforms passed by Parliament in March 2023 included measures to strengthen the ACCU Scheme’s integrity by increasing the transparency of project information, assuring method integrity and bolstering the independent Integrity Committee
the Clean Energy Regulator has commenced publishing carbon estimation area data for ACCU Scheme projects on the ACCU scheme project register
the Minister for Climate Change and Energy has revoked the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative—Avoided Deforestation 1.1) Methodology Determination 2015 (avoided deforestation method). This prevents new avoided deforestation projects being registered under the ACCU Scheme
Climate Active participants will not be required to use a minimum 20% ACCUs to meet their carbon neutral commitments.

The Implementation Plan was released in June 2023.

In-person and online workshops

Supporting remote, rural and First Nations workshop participants

Some funding is available to support remote, rural and First Nations people to participate in the in-person consultation workshops.
The funding is intended to cover reasonable travel costs incurred to attend a workshop.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible, applicants must:

a) be located in a regional or remote area of Australia and/or be of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent, and

b) have an ABN or be sponsored by an organisation with an ABN, and

c) attend the nominated consultation workshop in person, and

d) comply with the conditions of reasonable travel expenses.

Read the application form for additional detail on the eligibility criteria.

How to apply

Application form
Download and complete the application form.
Email the completed form to ACCUscheme@dcceew.gov.au.
Assessment of application and outcome notice
Your application will be assessed, and you will be notified of the outcome within 7 business days.
Conditions for reasonable travel expenses
Travel and travel expenses must be economical, efficient, effective, and ethical.
Approved applicants will be provided with the conditions for reasonable travel expenses.
Invoices for travel expenses
Payment will be made on receipt of your invoice along with accompanying documentation of your travel expenses (i.e., receipts and invoices). Payment will be a maximum of $1000, depending on the total value of documented expenditure.

Email any inquiries to ACCUscheme@dcceew.gov.au.