Carbon Farming Initiative workshop: from Plan to Practice slides - - PDF document

Early dry season savanna burning – slides 2 October 2013 Page 1

Carbon Farming Initiative workshop: from Plan to Practice – slides

Early dry season savanna burning

Darwin, 2 October 2013 These slides are also available in PDF format on the Clean Energy Regulator website1.

1 http://www.cleanenergyregulator.gov.au/Carbon-Farming-Initiative/Reports-and-

publications/Pages/default.aspx

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Welcome

• Introductions
• Housekeeping

Workshop purpose

• Support your participation
• Help you to understand what's involved
• Hear from other organisations and experts

Session 1 – Savanna burning and the Carbon Farming Initiative

• Clean Energy Regulator – Information about the Carbon Farming Initiative and how to

implement a compliant savanna burning project

• Indigenous Land Corporation – the Fish River project

Introduction

Purpose:

• Understand key concepts behind the Carbon Farming Initiative’s design
• Understand Clean Energy Regulator’s role

Carbon Farming Initiative overview

• Voluntary offsets scheme
• Project proponents earn Australian carbon credit units (ACCUs) by:

» storing carbon, or » reducing greenhouse gas emissions on the land

• Underpinned by legislation
• Each ACCU = one tonne of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2-e)
• ACCUs can be used by liable entities to meet their obligations under Australia’s carbon

pricing mechanism or sold to the voluntary market

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Legislative framework for the CFI Methodology determinations Methodology determinations set out the rules for undertaking a specific activity to earn Australian carbon credit units. Clean Energy Regulator Our vision is to support Australia in transitioning to a low carbon economy through an informed and efficient market for carbon and investment in renewable energy.

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Seven steps to participating

Getting started – pre planning

• Check your eligibility
• Assess the feasibility
• Check your expectation for return on investment

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• Decide on your business model

Consider your options carefully, get independent, professional advice and ask questions relevant to your own situation. Do you have the legal right?

• You must show the Regulator evidence that you have the legal right to conduct a

savanna burning project

• Legal rights include all permissions required to conduct the activity
• Seek legal advice
• Evidence can be copies of letters or contracts showing that legal right has been given to

you Step 1 – Recognised offsets entity Essential to be part of the Carbon Farming Initiative and issued with Australian carbon credit units

• Open an ANREU Account

» fit and proper person test » proof of identity test

• Centrally processed, case officer allocated

Tip: ask us to make sure you provide the right documentation applicable to your entity type Step 2 – Eligible Offsets Project

• Describes how your project is eligible to participate in the Carbon Farming Initiative
• Checked by the Clean Energy Regulator to make sure your plans meet the Carbon

Farming Initiative rules

• Processed by Carbon Farming team, new case officer

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Guide to undertaking a savanna burning project

Purpose:

• Support your decision to participate in the Carbon Farming Initiative using the Savanna

Burning methodology determination(s). What does a savanna burning project look like?

• Strategic early dry season fire management to reduce emissions
• In an area receiving more than 1000mm long-term average rainfall
• Vegetation one of four specific vegetation classes
• Does not use other methods to reduce the fire area

Why participate? Early dry season burning can:

• Social, cultural and environmental benefits for indigenous land holders
• Maintain the productive potential of the land
• Conserve biodiversity
• Help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions

Step 3 – undertaking a savanna burning project

• 1. Define Project Periods
• 2. Develop vegetation maps
• 3. Source or develop fire maps
• 4. Determine the start of the late dry season and conduct early dry season burning
• 5. Calculate Baseline
• 6. Calculate abatement
• 7. Record Fuel used to establish and manage the project
• 8. Calculate net annual greenhouse gas abatement
• 9. Prepare and submit audit and offsets report

Undertaking a savanna burning project

• 1. Define Project Periods

» Project and reporting period

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» Baseline period » Fuel Estimation period

• 2. Develop vegetation maps

» Identify and map project area » Validate maps » Calculate the area of each vegetation class

• 3. 3.Source or develop fire maps

» From NAFI or validate » Monthly fire maps » Seasonal fire maps

• 4. Determine the start of the late dry season and conduct early dry season burning

» Methodology determinations allow for regions with specific start dates to be established » Currently 31 August for all regions

• 5. Calculate Baseline

» Fire scar area in EDS and LDS for each veg class » Determine fire scar area in raster format

»

Convert values into hectares The baseline represents what would happen in the absence of the project.

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• 6. Calculate abatement

» Identify your greenhouse gas assessment boundary » Calculate annual fire emissions

• 7. Record Fuel used to establish and manage the project
• 8. Calculate net annual greenhouse gas abatement

» Determine total annual project emissions » Determine net annual project abatement » 9 equations using the data gathered Example: Equation 1 – calculating annual fire emissions

• 9. Prepare and submit audit and offsets report

» Record keeping and monitoring » Project record keeping » Reporting periods » Project offsets report

Monitoring and record keeping

• Have a monitoring plan in place before you start
• Collect information and record from the start of your project
• Set up controls and processes

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Monitoring and record keeping are critical for your project reporting and to earn Australian carbon credit units. Will you be able to protect your data in an unforeseen event?

• Make and keep records of:

» All maps, data sets and mapping products » Evidence of validation of vegetation map » EDS burning activities during the project reporting period including location, timing and method of prescribed burns » Fuel use (receipts and logs) Step 4 – audit report Provides a ‘reasonable assurance’ opinion on whether or not your project complies with the methodology determination and Carbon Farming legislation Step 5 – Certificate of Entitlement and offsets report

• Applications for Australian carbon credit units are made at the same time as you submit

your offsets and audit reports.

• You can choose when to report and apply for credits, within the one to five year period.
• Good record keeping is essential to your report and audit.

Current state of the Carbon Farming Initiative

180 Recognised offsets entities (ROEs) - businesses and individuals at 16 September 2013

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Current participation in the Carbon Farming Initiative

86 eligible offsets projects at 16 September 2013

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Australian carbon credit units

1,962,675 ACCUs issued to 13 proponents for 25 projects (as at 16 September 2013)

Question and Answer panel

• Introduction to the Carbon Farming Initiative and Clean Energy Regulator
• Guide to undertaking a savanna burning project