‘Carbon Neutral’ to be redefined by DCC
Pretty much the whole of Australia is on track to be completely carbon neutral if the Australian Federal Department of Climate Change gets their way. How will this amazing feat be achieved? By redefining the term ‘carbon neutral’.
Yesterday I attended a meeting of most of the key members of the Australian Carbon Offset industry at the Melbourne Zoo (great venue for such meetings btw), hosted by the Victorian Department of Primary Industries. (Thanks Graeme – and thanks Ginny, shame you could not be there too but your work with the bushfires is appreciated by all.)
During the meeting Vicki Ratliff, Director of the Offsets and Verification Team, a part of the Strategies and Coordination Division of the DCC gave an industry briefing on the DCC’s proposed voluntary offset standard. The DCC’s discussion paper on this topic has been out for a little while and comments are due by next Friday.
The industry has several concerns about the DCC’s approach, and at one point I asked Vicki directly, Is the Department suggesting that it will redefine the term ‘carbon neutral’ to mean ‘complies with the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme’, rather than the more commonly understood meaning of ‘zero net emissions’?
Her answer; Yes.
So, under this proposal, Australian industry will be allowed to increase its emissions by 9% over 1990 levels, and be able to claim to be carbon neutral in the process. Anyone who can’t see the problems with this has rocks in their head. I am certain the ACCC will be curious.
Carbon Planet is preparing a response, as is the newly formed Voluntary Carbon Markets Association. — DS