Carbon Neutral

  • Return to Summary of all Providers
    Primary activity : Project developerThe person or organisation that set up an offset generating project for the purpose of selling carbon offsets and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. , RetailerCarbon offset retailers either fund or purchase carbon offsets in large quantities and then on sell them to individual consumers in smaller quantities. , Not-for-ProfitIn the Carbon Offset Guide not-for-profit entities must have appropriate legal status, which means that they must have a formal structure; be self-governing; be private; be non-profit-distributing; and have some meaningful degree of voluntary involvement.    Price (per tonne CO2e) : AU$11 - AU$20

    Summary

    Carbon Neutral 's view on the role of carbon offsets in addressing climate change

    "Carbon offsets play an important role in a multi-dimensional solution to slowing climate change. Carbon Neutral always advocates for, and supports through our work, the importance of reducing emissions where possible as a crucial first step. Offsets provide a facility to mitigate the impact of non-reduable emissions on our atmosphere.
    Carbon offsetting through native tree planting is an important means of removing CO2A greenhouse gas that is produced as a by-product of oil and gas production, burning fossil fuels and biomassBiomass is non-fossilized and organic biodegradable material that can be used as fuel or for industrial production. Most commonly, biomass refers to plant matter grown for use as Biofuels, but it also includes plant or animal matter used for production of fibres, chemicals or heat. Biomass may also include biodegradable wastes that can be burnt as fuel. , as well as from all animals, plants, and a number of other natural sources. Carbon dioxideA greenhouse gas that is produced as a by-product of oil and gas production, burning fossil fuels and biomass, as well as from all animals, plants, and a number of other natural sources. Carbon dioxide is the principal anthropogenic greenhouse gas that affects the earth’s temperature. is the principal anthropogenic greenhouse gas that affects the earth’s temperature. from the atmosphere. By sequestering CO2 for 100 years, tree planting offsets provide a bridge to a clean energy future during the transition from fossil fuels to clean energy generation. Planting trees as offsets can address other environmental issues such as salinity, erosion, loss of biodiversity and habitat, and land degradation. Tree planting also has the potential benefit of providing biomassBiomass is non-fossilized and organic biodegradable material that can be used as fuel or for industrial production. Most commonly, biomass refers to plant matter grown for use as BiofuelsBiofuels are renewable fuels made from biomass that can be used to supplement or replace the fossil fuels (such as petroleum and diesel) used in transport. The two main biofuels are ethanol and biodiesel. Ethanol is produced from the fermentation of sugar or starch in crops such as corn and sugar cane. Biodiesel is made from vegetable oils in crops such as soybean, or from animal fats. , but it also includes plant or animal matter used for production of fibres, chemicals or heat. Biomass may also include biodegradable wastes that can be burnt as fuel. fuel for clean energy production through Integrated Wood Processing (IWP) and biomass electricity generation plants."


    Detailed InformationClick on the tabs below for more information:

    Summary

    Role in the Carbon Offset Market
    [Q1]Project developer, Retailer
    Not-for-Profit
    Main client base
    [Q3]Businesses, local government and individuals around Australia

    Offset Products

    Offset Products

    Price(s) per tonne
    [Q17]AU$11 - AU$20
    Project Type(s)
    [Q23]- Methane landfill
    - Plantation of monoculture of native species for harvesting
    - Afforestation / reforestation with multiple locally occurring species of vegetation
    Project Location(s)
    [Q27]- Domestic
    Are offsets packaged with other services (such as footprinting, carbon neutrality etc)?
    [Q10]Yes

    [Find out more about project types]

    Offset Quality

    Offset Quality

    Organisation is licensed to provide financial advice (or to be an authorised representative in providing financial advice) in the context of brokerage of carbon commodities
    [Q23a]No
    Offsets generated and sold by Carbon Neutral
    [Q33a]- Greenhouse FriendlyGreenhouse Friendly 'The Greenhouse Friendly™ initiative has been operating since 2001 to certify carbon neutral products and services and approve abatement credits for sale on the voluntary market, including to Greenhouse Friendly™ certified product and service providers. Introduction of the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (the Scheme) has implications for Greenhouse Friendly™. The Scheme will have broad sectoral coverage, which means there will be less scope to pursue offset activities with offsets limited to emissions sources uncovered by the Scheme. This means the Scheme will impact on the types of abatement that can be provided, because abatement in sectors covered by the Scheme will no longer be additional to “business as usual”. For these reasons Greenhouse Friendly™ will wind up on 1 July 2010. Greenhouse Friendly™ certification of carbon neutral products and services will continue to operate until 1 July 2010. Applications for new abatement projects have closed. Abatement may be generated by current Greenhouse Friendly™ abatement providers up to 1 July 2010, and may still be sold and purchased after that date.
    Non-accredited forestry offsets
    How does your organisation calculate the amount and price of carbon offset required by customers?
    [Q10]- Personal contact from clients with specific needs for type of offset and tonnage
    - Personal contact from customers wanting the service of carbon footprinting and (generic) offset purchase to achieve carbon neutrality
    - Carbon Neutral provides a comprehensive online emissions calculator for organisations and individuals along with carbon consulting services. We can also provide a range of offset quantities and types for organisations upon request.
    Do you provide quality assurance or technical documentation on your web site or on request?
    [Q16]

    http://www.carbonneutral.com.au/downloads.htm

    Is your organisation audited by an independent third party for the sale and retirement of offsets and / or RECs?
    [Q16b] No
    Does your organisation supply National Carbon Offset Standard (NCOS) or NCOS compliant abatement to customers from 1st July 2010?
    [Q18] Yes, NCOS compliantAbatement that is compliant with the National Carbon Offset Standard. NCOS compliant abatement currently includes Certified Emissions Reductions (CERs) except long term (lCERs) and temporary (tCERs); Emission Reduction Units (ERUs); Removal Units (RMUs); Voluntary Emissions Reductions (VERs) issued by the Gold Standard*; Voluntary Carbon Units (VCUs) issued by the Voluntary Carbon Standard, however where VCU credits are issued for reduced emissions from deforestation and degradation (REDD) and other agriculture forestry and land use (AFOLU) projects, they must apply methodologies approved under the NCOS Standard. abatementA reduction in the amount or intensity of greenhouse gas emissions as a result of actions taken by a company or individual.
    [Q19]
    What evidence of purchase can customers expect to receive when buying carbon offsets from your organisation?
    - Certificate for amount of offset purchased
    - Independent certification and / or third party documentation in relation to the project
    - Certificate of RetirementIn the context of carbon offsets, this is the act of removing a carbon credit or permit from the market so that abatement cannot be traded any further. Retiring offsets helps to prevent the resale or reuse of offsets that have already been used. /Acquittal
    - Serial numbers to identify offset units purchased
    What documentation is available to customers about the carbon offset project/s as part of the education and quality assurance process?
    [Q22]- Where we provide accredited offsets over the counter we will provide details of the accreditation for those offsets along with their retirement on a registry.


    [Find out more about issues relating to offsetting]
    [Find out more about Certification Standards]

    Resources

    Resources

    Do you provide a carbon footprint calculation service for your customers?
    [Q12]- Yes, our own online calculator
    - Yes, personalised assessment
    Carbon calculation - methodology, standards or guidelines
    [Q13]- NGA FactorsThe National Greenhouse Accounts (NGA) Factors is an Australian guide to emission factors from a range of sectors that is used by companies to calculate greenhouse gases. It is prepared by the Department of Climate Change and replaces the AGO Factors & Methods Workbook. For more information, see here.
    - GHG ProtocolThe Greenhouse Gas Protocol. The GHG Protocol is an international accounting tool for government and business to understand, quantify, and manage greenhouse gas emissions. It has been developed by a partnership between the World Resources Institute (WRI) and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and provides an internationally accepted accounting framework for GHG standards and programs, as well as inventories prepared by individual companies.
    - ISO 14064A global GHG accounting, reporting and verification standard. The goal of the standard is to 'provide a set of unambiguous and verifiable requirements or specifications to support organisations and proponents of GHG emissions reductions projects.'
    - National Carbon Offset Standard
    - AS/NZS 3598:2000This Standard sets out minimum requirements for commissioning and conducting energy audits which identify opportunities for cost effective investments to improve efficiency and effectiveness in the use of energy. This Standard covers three levels of audit, as follows:
    (a) Level 1.
    (b) Level 2.
    (c) Level 3.
    Primarily, it is intended for use by energy users but will be of assistance to energy auditors, and may serve as a useful reference document for anyone interested in the field of energy management best practice.     Energy Audit
    - BCSEBusiness Council for Sustainable Energy (BCSE).
    Do you apply National Greenhouse Accounts Factors full fuel cycle emissions conversion factors to calculate customer emissions?
    [Q14]- Yes
    In your calculation of customer emissions which of the 6 Kyoto Protocol greenhouse gases do you include?
    [Q15]- Carbon dioxideA greenhouse gas that is produced as a by-product of oil and gas production, burning fossil fuels and biomassBiomass is non-fossilized and organic biodegradable material that can be used as fuel or for industrial production. Most commonly, biomass refers to plant matter grown for use as Biofuels, but it also includes plant or animal matter used for production of fibres, chemicals or heat. Biomass may also include biodegradable wastes that can be burnt as fuel. , as well as from all animals, plants, and a number of other natural sources. Carbon dioxide is the principal anthropogenic greenhouse gas that affects the earth’s temperature.
    - MethaneMethane (CH4) is a greenhouse gas with a GWPGlobal warming potential (GWP) measured in CO2e, is the potency of greenhouse gases, meaning their ability to trap heat in the atmosphere, through the difference in time greenhouse gases remain in the atmosphere, and their effectiveness in absorbing outgoing infrared radiation. The GWP is a numerical measure relative to carbon dioxide, the most abundant greenhouse gas. So carbon dioxide itself has a GWP of 1 and, for example, methane has a GWP of 21. of 21.
    - Nitrous oxideAgriculture accounts for the majority of nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions in Australia, The transport sector also contributes to emissions of N2O. N2O has a high global warming potentialGlobal warming potential (GWP) measured in CO2e, is the potency of greenhouse gases, meaning their ability to trap heat in the atmosphere, through the difference in time greenhouse gases remain in the atmosphere, and their effectiveness in absorbing outgoing infrared radiation. The GWP is a numerical measure relative to carbon dioxide, the most abundant greenhouse gas. So carbon dioxide itself has a GWP of 1 and, for example, methane has a GWP of 21. of about 310 times that of CO2A greenhouse gas that is produced as a by-product of oil and gas production, burning fossil fuels and biomass, as well as from all animals, plants, and a number of other natural sources. Carbon dioxide is the principal anthropogenic greenhouse gas that affects the earth’s temperature..it breaks down very slowly – over about 120 years
    - HydrofluorocarbonsMajor releases of HFCs are from leakageIn relation to carbon offsets, leakage is the direct or indirect increase in GHG emissions from a greenhouse gas reduction project, which is also measurable and attributable to the project. from refrigeration equipment during operation and its end-of-life destruction. Minor releases arise from the use of HFC-containing aerosols, air conditioners and metered dose inhalers.HFCs have very high global warming potentials (140 to 11,700 times that of carbon dioxideA greenhouse gas that is produced as a by-product of oil and gas production, burning fossil fuels and biomass, as well as from all animals, plants, and a number of other natural sources. Carbon dioxide is the principal anthropogenic greenhouse gas that affects the earth’s temperature.).
    - PerfluorocarbonsMost emissions of PFCsMost emissions of PFCs in Australia are generated during aluminium production. PFCs have extremely high global warming potentials (5000 to 10,000 times that of carbon dioxide). However, because they are only released in relatively small amounts, their contribution to global warming is minor. Due to their stability they have very long atmospheric lifetimes (thousands of years). in Australia are generated during aluminium production. PFCs have extremely high global warming potentials (5000 to 10,000 times that of carbon dioxideA greenhouse gas that is produced as a by-product of oil and gas production, burning fossil fuels and biomass, as well as from all animals, plants, and a number of other natural sources. Carbon dioxide is the principal anthropogenic greenhouse gas that affects the earth’s temperature.). However, because they are only released in relatively small amounts, their contribution to global warming is minor. Due to their stability they have very long atmospheric lifetimes (thousands of years).
    Other carbon management services
    [Q11]- Footprinting services
    - Advisory services
    - Gifts
    - Carbon neutrality
    - Scoping customer emissions
    - Auditing
    - Emissions reductionA measurable reduction in the level of greenhouse gases being emitted by a country, state, organisation or individual. products and services e.g. sale of energy efficient products

    [Find out more about carbon offsetting]

    Projects

    Project Information

    Western Australia's Southern Metropolitan Regional Council methane avoidance through landfill diversion project | WA WA Methane landfill Greenhouse Friendly (GHF)

    General Information

    This project is not owned by Carbon Neutral | MethaneMethane (CH4) is a greenhouse gas with a GWPGlobal warming potential (GWP) measured in CO2e, is the potency of greenhouse gases, meaning their ability to trap heat in the atmosphere, through the difference in time greenhouse gases remain in the atmosphere, and their effectiveness in absorbing outgoing infrared radiation. The GWP is a numerical measure relative to carbon dioxide, the most abundant greenhouse gas. So carbon dioxide itself has a GWP of 1 and, for example, methane has a GWP of 21. of 21. avoidance through diversion of organic landfillA hole in the ground where domestic waste and waste products from industry are put and covered with soil. to create fertilizer and other products.


    Price per tonne of CO2e
    [Q24]

    $20


    Quality

    Accreditation or certification achieved as at May 2010
    [Q33a]- Greenhouse FriendlyGreenhouse Friendly 'The Greenhouse Friendly™ initiative has been operating since 2001 to certify carbon neutral products and services and approve abatement credits for sale on the voluntary market, including to Greenhouse Friendly™ certified product and service providers. Introduction of the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (the Scheme) has implications for Greenhouse Friendly™. The Scheme will have broad sectoral coverage, which means there will be less scope to pursue offset activities with offsets limited to emissions sources uncovered by the Scheme. This means the Scheme will impact on the types of abatement that can be provided, because abatement in sectors covered by the Scheme will no longer be additional to “business as usual”. For these reasons Greenhouse Friendly™ will wind up on 1 July 2010. Greenhouse Friendly™ certification of carbon neutral products and services will continue to operate until 1 July 2010. Applications for new abatement projects have closed. Abatement may be generated by current Greenhouse Friendly™ abatement providers up to 1 July 2010, and may still be sold and purchased after that date.
    Are the verified emission reductions created from this project NCOS compliant abatement?
    [Q36]

    - No

    Is this project additional to Australia's commitments under Kyoto
    [Q37]- Technically, abatement created from this project before March 2008 remains additional to Australia’s Kyoto commitments (Australia ratified the Kyoto Protocol on November 2007 and the agreement took effect at this time).

    Carbon Neutral Planting Projects 2009 | NSW | SA | VIC | WA NSW, SA, VIC, WA Plantation of monoculture of native species for harvesting, Afforestation / reforestation with multiple locally occurring species of vegetation Non-accredited forestry offsets

    General Information

    [Q22, Q25]

    Own Project | Mixed native species revegetation on a range of sites throughout WA, SA and VIC (possibly NSW as well TBC at time of writing). WA sites include approximately 30% oil mallee monocultures. Carbon Neutral has been establishing forest sinksAny process which removes a greenhouse gas from the atmosphere. Major sinks include forests and other vegetation. since 2002. For more detail on the various planting sites please visit http://www.carbonneutral.com.au/plantingprojects.htm


    Price per tonne of CO2e
    [Q24]

    AU$20

    Project Location(s)
    [Q27, Q28]Australia | NSW | SA | VIC | WA
    Project Size (tonnes of CO2e)
    [Q29] Multiple sites, multiple projects. http://www.carbonneutral.com.au/plantingprojects.htm

    Quality

    Date project started to generate verified emission reductions (VERs) / offset credits
    [Q31]- 1 Jan 2009
    Crediting period of the project (in years)
    [Q32]- 100 - Trees or carbon are protected for 100 years
    Accreditation or certification achieved as at May 2010
    [Q33a]- Non-accredited forestry offsets
    Are the verified emission reductions created from this project NCOS compliant abatement?
    [Q36]

    - No

    Is this project additional to Australia's commitments under Kyoto
    [Q37]- Technically, abatement created from this project before March 2008 remains additional to Australia’s Kyoto commitments (Australia ratified the Kyoto Protocol on November 2007 and the agreement took effect at this time).
    Do you forward sellThe sale of carbon offsets for emissions reductions or sequestration that have not yet occurred and therefore can not be precisely measured. abatementA reduction in the amount or intensity of greenhouse gas emissions as a result of actions taken by a company or individual. from this project
    [Q38]- Only forward sold abatement
    The registry on which offsets from this project are registered
    [Q39]- Our organisations internal registry
    - Assets relating to clients' donations ie. carbon are listed on Carbon Neutral's asset registry as 'non-tradable'.
    The process for retiring offsets from this project off the market
    [Q40]- We retire them concurrently at the time of purchase on behalf of the customer
    How is the retirement of abatement verified to your client?
    [Q41]- Tax Receipt
    The ancillary or co-benefits of this project
    [Q42]- The forest sinks will likely provide benefits, which will vary from site to site, such as wind breaks, reducing soil erosion, helping combat salinity, improving biodiversity and creating habitat for native fauna. Carbon Neutral endeavours not to take good agricultural land out of production and intends to improve the long term sustainability of the land.

    Contact Details

    Contact Details

    For more information please contact:

    Carbon Neutral
    www.carbonneutral.com.au
    1300 851 211
    4/9 Cleaver St, West Perth, Western Australia, 6005
    Information Submitted by Carbon Neutral in April 2010