New sampling requirements and guidance have been introduced for projects under the following Emissions Reduction Fund methods:
- Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative – Sequestering Carbon in Soils in Grazing Systems) Methodology Determination 2014, which take effect via changes to the CFI Soil sampling design method and guidelines (a subsidiary document), and
- Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative — Measurement of Soil Carbon Sequestration in Agricultural Systems) Methodology Determination 2018 which take effect via changes to The Supplement to the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative—Measurement of Soil Carbon Sequestration in Agricultural Systems) Methodology Determination 2018 (a subsidiary document).
Both methods rely on random allocation of sampling locations to be undertaken without bias to estimate changes in carbon stocks.
The Sampling guidance for measurement-based soil carbon methods outlines the relevant requirements and provides guidance to clarify and improve sampling assurance processes and controls for participants and the Clean Energy Regulator. Importantly, for participants, this can help prevent sampling rounds being invalid due to inadequate processes or record keeping.
Please note there are transitional arrangements in place through to 1 September 2020 for sampling rounds already in progress.
The new requirements and guidance follow several rounds of targeted and public consultation with participants and stakeholders—the latest of which follows the public consultation document released in March 2020. Many of the suggestions from participants have been incorporated into the above documents.
The Clean Energy Regulator has also released guidance for meeting the requirements of soil carbon land management strategies to assist participants through developing the land management strategies required for the registration and operation of projects under the Measurement of soil carbon sequestration in agricultural systems method.
Your feedback is important to us
If you have any feedback on the guidance released, please email CER-ERFMethodConsultation@cleanenergyregulator.gov.au