The Carbon Farming Initiative (CFI) allows farmers and land managers to earn carbon credits by storing carbon or reducing greenhouse gas emissions on the land. These credits can then be sold to people and businesses wishing to offset their emissions.
The CFI also helps the environment by encouraging sustainable farming and providing a source of funding for landscape restoration projects.
The CFI is a carbon offsets scheme that is part of Australia's carbon market. Legislation to underpin the CFI was passed by Parliament on 23 August 2011.
On 15 September 2011 the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) 2011 (CFI Act) received royal assent.
Regulations to underpin the operation of the CFI, the ANREU and to amend the NGER Regulations to allow CFI audits came into force on 8 December 2011.
Amendments to the CFI regulations came into force on 29 May 2012.
As part of the Clean Energy Future Plan passed by the Senate on 8 November 2011, the Australian Government has committed to a number of complementary land sector measures.
Videos
Click on the animation and short videos below to find out more about the CFI:
- CFI Overview
- How the CFI works (animation)
- Case study: Capturing piggery methane
- Case study: Capturing landfill gas
- Case study: Environmental plantings
Participating in the CFI
Participation in the CFI is voluntary; farmers and landholders can choose whether or not to be involved. Further information about the CFI and how it operates can be found in the CFI Handbook. It will also help you decide what type of CFI activity might be right for you, your business or your organisation.
If you are interested in participating and would like to apply please visit the Clean Energy Regulator website for the forms and further information on how to apply.
The department is responsible for the assessment of eligible and excluded activities for the CFI, the development of government methodologies for the CFI, and the secretariat for the Domestic Offset Integrity Committee. Further information is available via the following:
- CFI Handbook
- Activities—eligible and excluded
- Offset Methodologies
- The Domestic Offset Integrity Committee
- Recent developments.
Contact us
Email: cfi@climatechange.gov.au
Phone: 1800 057 590