Carbon Farming Initiative: Steps to participate

There are seven key steps in applying to participate under the Carbon Farming Initiative (CFI):

Step 1: Apply to become a Recognised Offset Entity (ROE) and open a registry account.  Alternatively, sell your carbon rights to another person (e.g. an aggregator) who would become the ROE. You may still be subject to a carbon maintenance obligation.

Step 2: The ROE applies for an Eligible Offsets Project, individually or collaborating with other landholders and/or service providers, using an approved CFI methodology. For sequestration projects, the administrator will consider whether the applicant holds a carbon sequestration right and has the written consent of others with an eligible interest in the land. The Northern Territory does not have specific legislative provisions recognizing the proprietary status of carbon sequestration rights. The Crown has an interest in leasehold land and there may be Native Title implications. Also, all necessary approvals must be obtained (e.g. non-pastoral use under the Pastoral Land Act) and the project must be consistent with the relevant Natural Resource Management Plan.

Step 3: Undertake approved abatement activity as set out in the chosen methodology.

Step 4: Submit offsets and audit reports provided by an authorised agent from the National Greenhouse & Energy Reporting auditor list

Step 5: Apply for credits

Step 6: Credits issued. These steps are repeated for the life of the project.

Step 7: Project closure

Acknowledgements: Australian Dept. of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency