Submission to the 2026 Australian Carbon Credit Unit (ACCU) Scheme review public consultation

Australia’s recent announcement of an emissions reduction target of 62–70% below 2005 levels by 2035 will require effort from both public and private sectors to reduce the country’s greenhouse gas emissions.

The Australian Carbon Credit Unit (ACCU) Scheme can incentivise private investment in the reduction of carbon emissions, enabling Australia to reach emission reduction targets and ultimately achieve net zero. This is particularly important as a way to offset emissions from hard-to-abate sources. The Scheme can continue to evolve to ensure integrity, encourage innovation, and enable broader participation. Strengthening transparency, supporting emerging technologies, and reducing barriers to entry will be key to maintaining public trust and delivering lasting climate benefits.

ATSE makes the following recommendations:

Recommendation 1: Establish ACCU Scheme methods that drive emerging research, development, and deployment of innovative emissions reduction technologies.

Recommendation 2: Encourage smaller landholders' participation in the ACCU Scheme through financial assistance, upskilling and assistance for carbon monitoring.

Recommendation 3: Strengthen the ACCU Scheme’s focus on permanence by introducing incentives for longer-term carbon storage commitments.

Recommendation 4: Support transparency of ACCU Scheme projects through expanded public access to project data.