Senator the Hon Malarndirri McCarthy, Minister for Indigenous Australians
The Hon Josh Wilson MP, Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy
Today the Albanese Government has made two new savanna fire carbon credit methods that have the potential to generate an estimated additional $7.7 billion across northern Australia through capturing carbon and reducing emissions while supporting secure, long-term jobs and investment for First Nations communities.
Drawing upon thousands of years of First Nations knowledge and practice and informed by advances in the science of carbon storage in savanna ecosystems, the two new methods now approved for use under the Australian Carbon Credit Unit (ACCU) Scheme are:
- an updated emissions avoidance-only method, and
- a new sequestration plus emissions avoidance method.
These methods are based upon the First Nations practice of setting low-intensity 'cooler' fires in the early dry season, which prevent unplanned high-intensity, high emission bushfires that also take a toll on environmental conditions and biodiversity.
These new methods account for more avoided emissions and - for the first time - properly attribute the carbon stored in trees, allowing more accurate crediting of strategic fire management across Northern Australia.
Nearly three-quarters of abatement achieved through savanna ACCU activities come from projects managed by Indigenous carbon businesses and these new methods can help project operators earn more ACCUs.
The Indigenous Carbon Industry Network (ICIN) estimates that Indigenous-led savanna fire management projects already abate around one million tonnes of emissions annually and generate around $59 million per annum.
The new methods will enhance these economic benefits with CSIRO estimates indicating that they are capable of abating around 180 million tonnes of extra emissions over the next 25 years.
Across Northern Australia, 86 current Savanna fire management projects span 34.9 million hectares - equivalent to 4.5% of Australia's total land area - with figures from ICIN showing 70 per cent of this area is owned and operated by Indigenous enterprises.
Since 2012, Indigenous-led projects have contributed to the abatement of around 11.1 million tonnes of emissions.
The new Savanna sequestration and emissions avoidance method introduces a 'sequestration bank' as a mechanism to smooth abatement crediting, helping ensure carbon is stored in the landscape for the long term.
The new high-integrity ACCU Scheme methods and the Albanese Government's ongoing support for the Indigenous Protected Area network demonstrates the commitment to work with First Nations communities to protect biodiversity and and take practical action on climate.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Indigenous Australians, Malarndirri McCarthy:
"Savanna fire management projects provide real benefits for First Nations people, such as jobs on Country for Indigenous land managers, direct income from the sale of ACCUs, and increased capacity to care for Country, culture and communities.
"The new methods will allow land managers to invest at an unprecedented scale.
"They will help advance our communities' priorities in health and wellbeing, education, housing and infrastructure and Connection to Country, Culture and Languages."
Quotes attributable to Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Josh Wilson:
"The method settings I have approved today will ensure the carbon stores that have been built up in the landscape since ACCU Scheme savanna fire methods began will be locked in and maintained over decades to come.
"The approval of these two new methods is a milestone built on First Nations knowledge and practice derived from thousands of years of caring for Country.
"Combining that knowledge and experience with scientific advances to tackle climate change will help care for Country into the future, while providing new economic opportunities that properly value the critical climate benefits of First Nations enterprise.
"I would like to thank the many Traditional Owners, Land Councils, Indigenous-led organisations and businesses, and the scientific community, who have devoted their knowledge and skills over the past 20-plus years to help us reach today's milestone.
"These methods will complement the strong leadership of Traditional Owners in caring for Country through the Indigenous Protected Area program."
