The Carbon Industry Code of Conduct provides guidance for project developers, agents, aggregators and advisers undertaking carbon projects including under the Emissions Reduction Fund and other Voluntary Offset Schemes.

This voluntary code aims to promote market integrity, consumer protection and appropriate interaction with project stakeholders, including Native Title Holders, representative bodies, land managers and project owners.

Signatories to the Code agree to meet the minimum requirements for operating in the carbon industry, as set out in the Code, including during pre-project activities, ongoing project management, documentation and general business practices. Administered by the Carbon Market Institute (CMI), the Code aims to address issues that impact on the reputation of the carbon industry and promote international leadership on carbon project development.

Signatories to the Code are committed to developing and conducting their business in line with industry best practice and interacting with their clients and other stakeholders in a professional and ethical manner. As Code Administrator, CMI will monitor and review compliance under the Code to ensure signatories continue to operate professionally and in compliance with the requirements of the Code.

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Promoting best practice within Australia’s carbon reduction & sequestration industry.

Signatories to the Code are listed on the CMI’s Carbon Industry Code of Conduct website and demonstrate to the industry that they are committed to developing and operating in an industry that is built on community trust, transparency, accountability, social and environmental integrity, and is in compliance with the law.

Signatories are entitled to use the Carbon Industry Code of Conduct brand mark; a public recognition of leadership and integrity that distinguishes the organisation in the marketplace. By becoming a signatory to the Code, the organisation is supporting the carbon industry’s vision of achieving a well-functioning carbon industry in Australia at the scale required to significantly contribute to greenhouse gas reduction commitments under the Paris Agreement.

It is anticipated that the existence of the Code will lead to a well-functioning carbon industry and result in increased transparency and accountability, improved environmental and social integrity of projects, fair treatment of project owners, and enhanced regulatory and legislative compliance.

Project owners and other stakeholders in the carbon industry engaging with a signatory to the Code know that they are committing to best practice business practices and have a commitment to the integrity, reputation and growth of the carbon industry in Australia.

 
 

Foundation Signatories

 

Signatories

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2020 INDEPENDENT REVIEW

As a fundamental step in strengthening this voluntary framework, an Independent Review of the Code was undertaken. This Review marks a significant milestone for the Industry in preparation for the Code’s transition to its fully Operational Stage on 1 July 2020. For Signatories and non-Signatory stakeholders, this Review process was an opportunity to have input into, and support the ongoing maturity and development of Australia’s carbon industry

The Code Administrator has released its response to the Independent Review (the Review) of the Australian Carbon Industry Code of Conduct (the Code). The release of this report announces the transition of the Code from foundation to full operation and marks a key milestone for the maturity of Australia’s domestic carbon market. The report establishes a pathway for how the Code will scale up to play a more active role in supporting carbon market integrity, transparency and accountability as the carbon industry expands in the coming years.

The full response and transition plan can be found (left), along with the submissions received in the Independent Review and consultation process.

2020 INDEPENDENT REVIEW

Independent Review of the Australian Carbon Industry Code of Conduct April 2020
Independent Review of the Carbon Industry Code of Conduct Consultation Paper April 2020
Independent Review: Foundation to Operational Stage terms of reference October 2019

2020 SUBMISSIONS

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Promoting best practice within Australia’s carbon reduction & sequestration industry.

Apply to become a Signatory

Promoting best practice within Australia’s carbon reduction & sequestration industry.

prospectus

DECEMBER 2020
Government Partner Status >

DECEMBER 2020 
Industry Supporter

 
 
 
Becoming a Signatory

Interested in becoming a Signatory to the Code of Conduct?

By becoming a signatory to the Code, you are supporting the carbon industry’s vision of achieving a well-functioning carbon industry in Australia at the scale required to significantly contribute to emissions reduction commitments under the Paris Agreement. Application forms can be found in the Forms & Resources section (below) and must be submitted to the Code Administrator for assessment.  You will be notified within 10 business days on the outcome of your application.

Signatories are able to use the Code of Conduct Signatory Brandmark across their own business operations, give stakeholders (clients) and buyers the confidence that the Signatory they’re engaging with, is operating towards industry best practice standards. Increasingly, the Code is being recognised as an important standard to meet, in order to engage with certain funds and project development opportunities across the country.

What else do I need to consider?

The Code has predominantly been designed to suit the regulatory regime of the Emissions Reduction Fund (ERF) (which was previously known as the Carbon Farming Initiative (CFI)). The Code is also relevant to other Voluntary Offset Schemes (for example Gold Standard and the Verified Carbon Standard).

The Code aims to define industry best practice for carbon service providers and represents the minimum standards that all signatories agree to meet. The Code applies to project developers, agents, aggregators and advisers who act as scheme participants and/or provide advice and services to clients regarding registration, implementation and management of carbon projects. It covers all types of projects undertaken within the ERF and other Voluntary Offset Schemes in Australia.

The application of the Code may be different according to the category of signatory. The two signatory categories under the Code are:

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Information for Stakeholders

Engaging with Signatories


The Carbon Industry Code of Conduct recognises that there are various stakeholders who interact with Signatories to the Code, within the industry. The Code broadly defines clients as landholders, facility owners or other parties who wish to undertake a carbon offsets project.

Who are the Signatories & What should I expect from them?

Signatories are entities that have signed the Carbon Industry Code of Conduct. Signatories will usually be project developers, agents, aggregators or advisers who act as scheme participants, or provide advice and services to clients regarding registration, implementation and management of carbon offsets projects. For the current list of Signatories to the Code, see [Code Signatories].

Signatories to the Carbon Industry Code of Conduct have agreed to conduct their business in line with the requirements of the Code. Stakeholders or clients of a signatory can expect to be dealt with in a manner that befits the best practices outlined in the Carbon Industry Code of Conduct, on all the carbon offsets projects that each stakeholder or client wishes to undertake.

For more information on the Carbon Industry Code of Conduct and its requirements, or if you are interested about how complaints are dealt with under the Code, please see the guidance documents for stakeholders in the Forms & Resources section, below.

Go to Forms & Resources
Information for Stakeholders

Engaging with Signatories


The Carbon Industry Code of Conduct recognises that there are various stakeholders who interact with Signatories to the Code, within the industry. The Code broadly defines clients as landholders, facility owners or other parties who wish to undertake a carbon offsets project.

Who are the Signatories & What should I expect from them?

Signatories are entities that have signed the Carbon Industry Code of Conduct. Signatories will usually be project developers, agents, aggregators or advisers who act as scheme participants, or provide advice and services to clients regarding registration, implementation and management of carbon offsets projects. For the current list of Signatories to the Code, see [Code Signatories].

Signatories to the Carbon Industry Code of Conduct have agreed to conduct their business in line with the requirements of the Code. Stakeholders or clients of a signatory can expect to be dealt with in a manner that befits the best practices outlined in the Carbon Industry Code of Conduct, on all the carbon offsets projects that each stakeholder or client wishes to undertake.

For more information on the Carbon Industry Code of Conduct and its requirements, or if you are interested about how complaints are dealt with under the Code, please see the guidance documents for stakeholders in the Forms & Resources section, below.

Go to Forms & Resources
Complaints and Breaches of the code

Reporting a complaint or breach of the Code


All Signatories to the Code have agreed to conduct their business in line with the Code requirements. As part of those requirements, which are outlined in the complaints handling procedure and handling complaints guidance for signatories available in Forms & Resources below, all Signatories must:

  • notify the Code Administrator, using the Signatory Complaint Form below, within 10 business days of the Signatory receiving a complaint against them from a complainant;
  • notify the Code Administrator, using the Signatory Complaint Form below, within 10 business days of the Signatory being notified by the relevant body of receipt of a complaint, of any complaints lodged against them with the Regulator, the Department, an ombudsman or a consumer affairs body;
  • inform the Code Administrator, using the Signatory Breach Form, within 10 business days where a Signatory suspects a major or severe breach of the Code made by other Signatories, after taking reasonable steps to contact the Signatory suspected of breaching the Code, and;
  • should also endeavor to inform the Code Administrator, using the Signatory Breach Form, within 10 business days of any other breaches of the Code made by other Signatory companies, after taking reasonable steps to contact the Signatory suspected of breaching the Code.
What is a complaint or breach of the Code?

The following definitions are included in the Carbon Industry Code of Conduct:

  • Complaint An expression of dissatisfaction with an action or service of a signatory where a response or resolution is explicitly or implicitly expected (see AS ISO 10002–2006).
  • Breach Any failure to comply with the Code of Conduct including the Code Rules, and other documentation referred to in the Code.
  • Complainant A client, stakeholder or other party who lodges a complaint.
What if I am a client, stakeholder or party other than a Code Signatory?

Should you need to make a complaint against a company identifying itself as a Signatory to the Carbon Industry Code of Conduct, you should first contact the company directly, as outlined in the complaints handling procedure and handling complaints guidance for signatories. Signatories to the Code are expected to separately inform the Code Administrator upon receipt of your complaint.

Once a Signatory receives your complaint they are expected to investigate the complaint and provide you with feedback on their investigation within 21 days. If the Signatory requires additional time, they are expected to inform you and the Code Administrator of this requirement and complete their investigation within 45 days of your original complaint.

Following this process, if you are not satisfied with the response from the Signatory you can register your complaint with the Code Administrator using the form below. You may also contact your relevant consumer protection organisation.

Information for Stakeholders

Engaging with Signatories


The Carbon Industry Code of Conduct recognises that there are various stakeholders who interact with Signatories to the Code, within the industry. The Code broadly defines clients as landholders, facility owners or other parties who wish to undertake a carbon offsets project.

Who are the Signatories & What should I expect from them?

Signatories are entities that have signed the Carbon Industry Code of Conduct. Signatories will usually be project developers, agents, aggregators or advisers who act as scheme participants, or provide advice and services to clients regarding registration, implementation and management of carbon offsets projects. For the current list of Signatories to the Code, see [Code Signatories].

Signatories to the Carbon Industry Code of Conduct have agreed to conduct their business in line with the requirements of the Code. Stakeholders or clients of a signatory can expect to be dealt with in a manner that befits the best practices outlined in the Carbon Industry Code of Conduct, on all the carbon offsets projects that each stakeholder or client wishes to undertake.

For more information on the Carbon Industry Code of Conduct and its requirements, or if you are interested about how complaints are dealt with under the Code, please see the guidance documents for stakeholders in the Forms & Resources section, below.

Go to Forms & Resources
Client Complaint Form

If you have made a complaint against a company identifying itself as a Signatory to the Code (either directly to the Signatory or through a relevant consumer protection organisation), you can notify the Code Administrator by completing this form.

Signatory Complaint Form

As a signatory to the Code, if you receive a complaint against you by a complainant, or you are notified of a complaint that has been lodged against you with the Clean Energy Regulator, the Department of the Environment and Energy, an ombudsman or a consumer affairs body, you are required to inform the Code Administrator, within 10 business days by completing this form.

Signatory Breach Form

As a Signatory to the Code, if you suspect that another signatory has breached the Code, you must first take reasonable steps to contact the signatory suspected of breaching the Code before informing the Code Administrator of a suspected breach by another signatory. If the suspected breach is considered major or severe as outlined in the Code breach matrix, you must notify the Code Administrator by completing this form.  If the suspected breach is considered minor or medium as outlined in the Code breach matrix, you are encouraged to notify the Code Administrator by completing this form.

Frequently Asked Questions
Forms & Resources
SIGNATORY DECISION TREE
 
 
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Contact the Administrator

The Code of Conduct will begin operating on 1st July, 2018. The Code Administrator is already conducting preliminary operations prior to the commencement of the Code, including taking and processing Signatory Applications.

If you need to get in touch with the Code Administrator for any reason, you can contact the Administrator team at the Carbon Market Institute on the below details:

by Email: code.administrator@carbonmarketinstitute.org

by Telephone: +61 (03) 8601 1142