An expert panel to assess proposed methods for developing and selling carbon credits has been announced by the Federal Government, delivering the first step under the Carbon Farming Initiative (CFI).

"The Domestic Offsets Integrity Committee will assess the specific methods for measuring carbon credits,” the Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, Greg Combet, said.

"As we indicated during the election campaign, this will enable farmers, foresters and landholders to receive offset credits for actions that reduce or store carbon pollution. These credits can then be sold, providing opportunities for them to generate income as Australia moves towards a low-pollution future.

"The National Carbon Offsets Standard, introduced 1 July 2010, has established the rules for companies to become carbon neutral or to sell carbon neutral products. The Carbon Farming Initiative (CFI) will set out what farmers, foresters and landholders need to do to generate carbon credits and it will establish an independent regulator to verify carbon credit claims."

Reforestation, capturing emissions from existing landfill ('legacy waste'), and better management of livestock manure are some of the ways to generate carbon credits, he explained.

"Once the credits are verified, they can be traded on Australia’s voluntary carbon market and on overseas markets, generating revenue while reducing carbon pollution," Mr Combet said.

"Offset credits can be purchased by individuals and corporations to compensate for their own carbon pollution. Buyers of offset credits will include businesses that choose to go carbon neutral, and companies that sell carbon neutral products.

"This is another example of Government action to tackle climate change and create new business opportunities in the low-pollution economy of the future.

"I am pleased to announce the appointment of six experts who will form an independent panel, the Domestic Offsets Integrity Committee. They have the important responsibility of assessing the detailed methods which will provide a new income stream for farmers, foresters and landholders, and help the environment by reducing carbon pollution.

"After consultations with interested groups and a period for public submissions, the committee will provide independent advice to me on methodologies that can be approved in advance of the CFI legislation which we plan to bring before the Parliament in the first half of 2011. The committee I am announcing today is an interim body that will be replaced with a statutory committee when the legislation has passed.

"The sooner we get these rigorous measures in place, the sooner investment opportunities and measures to abate carbon pollution will be available."

Mr Combet said the diverse range of skills and backgrounds represented on the Committee would ensure the methods recommended for approval were rigorous and would lead to verifiable abatement of carbon pollution.

The members of the Committee are;

• Mr Duncan McGregor (Chair);
• Mr Rob Fowler;
• Dr J. Mark Dangerfield;
• Professor Annette Cowie;
• Dr Brian Keating; and,
• Ms Shayleen Thompson.

Further information will be available at www.climatechange.gov.au

Media contact: Tim Fitzsimmons 02 6277 7920 or 0447 202 469

Biographies – Domestic Offsets Integrity Committee members:

Mr Duncan McGregor:
Partner and specialist climate change, environment and development lawyer at Minter Ellison in Sydney. He is highly regarded within his professional field and considered an expert in the field of climate change law. He provides ongoing legal advice to a wide variety of corporations on climate change and carbon issues, as well as acting for entities such as the Australian Indigenous Chamber of Commerce on Indigenous carbon trading related to biosequestration and renewable energy.

Mr Rob Fowler:
Well-known offsets expert with extensive experience which is directly relevant to the functions of the DOIC. As a former administrator of the NSW Greenhouse Gas Abatement Scheme, he has an understanding of the practicalities of implementing a major offsets program. He has been a methodology expert within the UNFCCC since 2004 and has reviewed a wide variety of crediting methodologies and projects. He also has relevant experience through his work with the Gold Standard (one of the major international offset standards).

Dr J. Mark Dangerfield:
Ecologist, environmental scientist and author. He is a member of the NSW Natural Resource Advisory Council and one of three global experts accredited to assess agriculture and land management projects generating carbon credits under the Voluntary Carbon Standard.

Professor Annette Cowie:
Well-known scientist with high profile in Australia and internationally, who has published widely in academic and trade journals on biochar, soil emissions, forest carbon sequestration, and carbon in wood products. She also has practical experience with offsets programs, including the forest offset component of GGAS.

Dr Brian Keating:
(CSIRO nominee) Director of the CSIRO Sustainable Agriculture Flagship. Dr Keating is an expert in the areas of agronomy, crop physiology, farming systems, science management and simulation modelling. His work has addressed a diverse set of issues including farming system design, soil and water management and climate risk management. He also holds several professional positions, including the role of Director of the International Consortium for Agricultural Systems Application.

Ms Shayleen Thompson:
(Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency representative) Head of the Land Division in the Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency. She has worked on international and domestic climate change policy and programs since 1995. The Land Division was established in July 2010 to provide a coherent and coordinated approach to climate change mitigation and carbon accounting in the land sector in both international and domestic spheres.