Contents
Types of methods reviews
The Emissions Reduction Assurance Committee (ERAC) conducts two types of method reviews.
Periodic reviews:
- Finalised methods are reviewed by the ERAC to examine whether the method remains compliant with the Offsets Integrity Standards. A risk-based framework is used to determine when a periodic review needs to be undertaken.
Crediting period extension reviews:
- Each method has a crediting period, the period for which a project is able to earn Australia carbon credit units (ACCUs). The ERAC must complete a crediting period extension review of each method before the first point in time when a project covered by the method enters the last 12 months of its crediting period. A crediting period extension review considers whether a method should have its crediting period extended based on whether projects registered under the method are still achieving carbon abatement that is unlikely to occur in the ordinary course of events.
Land and sea transport
2022 crediting period extension review
The ERAC has completed the crediting period extension review of the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative - Land and Sea Transport) Methodology Determination 2015 (the land and sea transport method).
The ERAC undertook targeted consultation from November 2022 to December 2022 and received 5 submissions.
They found insufficient evidence to demonstrate that extending the crediting period would continue to result in abatement unlikely to occur in the ordinary course of events. Based on this finding, the ERAC recommended that the crediting period for the land and sea transport method should not be extended.
Read the
Crediting period extension review report for further information.
Find out more about using the
land and sea transport method.
Beef cattle herd management
2022 crediting period extension review
The ERAC has completed the crediting period extension review of the
Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative – Beef Cattle Herd Management) Methodology Determination 2015 (the beef herd management method).
The ERAC undertook targeted consultation from November 2021 to January 2022 and received six submissions.
The ERAC found insufficient evidence to demonstrate that extending the crediting period would continue to result in abatement unlikely to occur in the ordinary course of events. Based on this finding, the ERAC recommended that the crediting period for the beef herd management method should not be extended.
Read the
Crediting period extension review report for further information.
Find out more about using the
Beef cattle herd management method.
2022 periodic review
The ERAC is currently reviewing the method against the Offsets Integrity Standards set out in the
Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) Act 2011. The ERAC invites submissions from the public on the method's compliance with the Offsets Integrity Standards and any other issues with the method. The ERAC will consider submissions received by 21 October 2022. Following this, the ERAC will prepare its advice to the Minister for Climate Change and Energy based on the outcomes of its review.
The periodic review discussion paper is available on Department of Industry, Science and Resources'
Consultation Hub.
Source separated organic waste
2022 crediting period extension review
The ERAC has completed the crediting period extension review of the
Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative - Source Separated Organic Waste) Methodology Determination 2016 (the source separated organic waste method).
The ERAC undertook targeted consultation from December 2021 to January 2022 and received five submissions.
The ERAC found insufficient evidence to demonstrate that extending the crediting period would continue to result in abatement unlikely to occur in the ordinary course of events. Based on this finding, the ERAC recommended that the crediting period for the source separated organic waste method should not be extended.
Read the
Crediting period extension review report for further information.
Find out more about using the
source separated organic waste method.
Commercial and public lighting
2021 crediting period extension review
The ERAC has completed the crediting period extension review of the
Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative – Commercial and Public Lighting) Methodology Determination 2015 (the commercial and public lighting method).
The ERAC undertook targeted public consultation from July to August 2021 and received one submission.
The ERAC found that the evidence provided by industry suggested that a crediting period extension would risk crediting non-additional abatement. Based on this the ERAC recommended that the crediting period for the commercial and public lighting method should not be extended.
Read the
Crediting period extension review report for further information.
2022 revocation
Following the crediting period extension review, the ERAC released a discussion paper and undertook public consultation on the proposed revocation of the commercial and public lighting method from January to February 2022 to determine whether the activities in the method are additional to business as usual. Two submissions were received. The ERAC found that method activities are no longer likely to result in abatement that would not occur in the ordinary course of events and recommended that the commercial and public lighting method should be revoked. The method was revoked on 7 April 2022.
Find out more about the
commercial and public lighting method revocation.
Industrial electricity and fuel efficiency
2021 crediting period extension review
The ERAC has completed the crediting period extension review of the
Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative – Industrial Electricity and Fuel Efficiency) Methodology Determination 2015 (the industrial electricity and fuel efficiency method).
The ERAC undertook public consultation from February to April 2021 and received eight submissions. As these submissions are confidential, they will not be published.
The ERAC found insufficient evidence to demonstrate that extending the crediting period would continue to result in abatement unlikely to occur in the ordinary course of events. Based on this finding, the ERAC recommended that the crediting period for the industrial electricity and fuel efficiency method should not be extended.
Read the
Crediting period extension review report for further information.
Find out more about using the
industrial electricity and fuel efficiency method.
New industrial and commercial emissions reduction method
The new industrial and commercial emissions reduction method builds on the industrial electricity and fuel efficiency method by making a number of enhancements including new abatement opportunities and improved method usability. After a transition period, the industrial electricity and fuel efficiency method will be revoked.
Find out more about using the
industrial and commercial emissions reduction method.
Coal mine waste gas
2021 crediting period extension review
The ERAC has completed the crediting period extension review of the
Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative – Coal Mine Waste Gas) Methodology Determination 2015 (the coal mine waste gas method).
The ERAC undertook targeted consultation from December 2020 to January 2021 and received three submissions. As these submissions are confidential, they will not be published.
The ERAC found sufficient evidence to demonstrate that extending the crediting period would continue to result in abatement unlikely to occur in the ordinary course of business.
Based on this finding, the ERAC recommended that the crediting period for new and existing projects be extended for five years.
Read the
Crediting period extension review report for further information.
Find out more about using the
coal mine waste gas method.
2021 method variation
Following the crediting period extension review, the ERAC undertook public consultation on a variation to the coal mine waste gas method throughout July 2021 and received two submissions. The varied method implements the 5-year crediting period extension and addresses other issues raised in consultation during the crediting period extension review and came into effect on 29 September 2021.
Landfill gas
2021 crediting period extension review
The
Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative – Landfill Gas) Methodology Determination Variation 2021 came into effect on 7 May 2021.
The variation implements findings from the ERAC's reviews of the method. This included a crediting period extension review under section 255A of the
Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) Act 2011 (the CFI Act).
The variation:
- Extends the crediting period for landfill gas flaring activities by five years (new flaring projects receive a 12-year crediting period)
- Clarifies the eligibility requirements for upgrade projects
- Changes the default methane proportion for landfill gas from 50% to 42% for new projects
.
Find out more about the
landfill gas variation and
using this method.
Alternative waste treatment
2020 crediting period extension review
The ERAC has completed the crediting period extension review of the
Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative – Alternative Waste Treatment) Methodology Determination 2015 (the alternative waste treatment method).
The ERAC undertook a first targeted consultation period and received four submissions. An additional six submissions were made in response to a request for data from existing projects under the method in November 2020.
The ERAC found insufficient evidence to demonstrate that extending the crediting period would continue to result in abatement unlikely to occur in the ordinary course of events. Based on this finding, the ERAC recommended that the crediting period for the alternative waste treatment method should not be extended.
Read the
Crediting period extension review report.
Find out more about using the
alternative waste treatment method.