Leading scientific experts appointed to Carbon Farming Committee

A leading scientific expert has been promoted to head up the independent scientific committee whose role it is to ensure carbon farming activities achieve real and lasting abatement of greenhouse gas pollution.

The Parliamentary Secretary for Climate Change, Industry and Innovation, Yvette D’Ath, today appointed Dr Tony Press, CEO of the Australian Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems Cooperative Research Centre, as Chair of the Domestic Offsets Integrity Committee. D’Ath also appointed Noel Peters as a new member of the committee.

“I am very pleased to be able to appoint two such respected and knowledgeable scientists to the committee, which does important work advising the government on carbon farming activities that achieve the best outcomes for Australia’s environment,” said D’Ath.

“Dr Press, who has been Acting Chair of the committee since August 2012, has already made an excellent contribution to the work of the committee. I look forward to the committee continuing to build on their good work, delivering robust and effective Carbon Farming Initiative rules that provide lasting environmental and financial benefits for farmers and land managers. 

“I also congratulate Mr Peters on his appointment to the committee and am confident that his technical and commercial expertise will be a valuable addition to the committee’s work,” she said.

Since its establishment, the committee has endorsed 13 sets of rules (methodologies) for different types of carbon farming projects, all of which have been approved by the Parliamentary Secretary and are now available for use in setting up Carbon Farming Initiative projects.

The committee’s scrutiny and guidance ensures that projects meet the highest international standards and that projects produce genuine reductions in carbon pollution. The committee members are internationally renowned experts with a diverse range of experience and scientific expertise related to climate change and carbon farming.

Further information on the CFI and the role and membership of the Domestic Offsets Integrity Committee is available at www.climatechange.gov.au/cfi.