Questions for CarbonLink

The Carbon Coalition has submitted the following questions to CarbonLink Rod Rush and Chairman Terry McCosker after the embargo was lifted. Some information will be commenrcial in cofidence. However we believe transparency is the best policy in carbon markets.

QUESTIONS:

1. Baselining: How can you afford to map and core sample at $20/Ha?

2. Verification: who is the independent 3rd party?

3. Which Government regulator do you have to satisfy? (In NSW it is the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal of NSW (IPART) in its role as Compliance Regulator.)

4. The 20% commission. Is it enough to cover verification costs? The CXX/NCAC system charges 30% and it is a visual verification system.

5. “Carbon Link will then determine via a model and experience how much carbon you can sequester.” Which model? Century? Roth C? C-Lock? Whose experience?

6. Is the 70 years acceptable when Kyoto has a 100 year rule for forests?

7. Will landholders allow a lien on their title that effectively reduces any future owner’s flexibility? (Landcare’s Carbon Smart is having trouble getting involvement because of the 100 year rule.) We are campaigning for a 30 year rule for soil.

8. On what basis was 10% buffer considered sufficient to cover contingencies? Did you consider insurance? Given the likelihood that we are going into another drought and groundcover will be strained.

10. If 25% of the 90% is to be kept in reserve "until its existence is proved by testing”? What of the 75% of the 90%? Is it not verified by testing?

11. Re “Period of sequestration is 10 years”? How does this align with the 70 years?

12. What is the smallest area a landholder can trade from under your system?

13. Does the system assumed soil bulk density or is this measured?

14. Are the payments retrospective for Carbon Farmers who have been doing this for years? We are often asked this question.

15. There has been a drastic decline in domestic price of CO2e. To $5/t. Does the model work at that price?

16. Is there provision for insurance?