14. Climate Action Volunteers

For those who are concerned that the world is not doing enough about Climate Change, the Government encourages them to join grassroots organisations like Landcare/Coastcare or similar, purchase CFI farm-based offsets from local farmers, or businesses can ‘go carbon neutral’ via the NCOS (National Carbon Offsets Standard). The Voluntary Market provides farmers with alternative outlets for offsets. The assumption that the Voluntary Market will always be characterised by low volumes and low prices is questionable. In the past 12 months, the price of Australian domestic voluntary offsets has exceeded international compliance permits.(eg., REDD Forests in Tasmania $9.50, EU ETS $7.00). Qantas entered into an agreement to buy more than 1.5 million tonnes of carbon credits from Henbury Station in central Australia in 2012. Dubbo’s Transforce Bulk Haulage – the first heavy transport fleet to achieve carbon neutrality– chose to pay $12 for offsets when units were available for $2.30 and less . The Voluntary Market has yet to fulfil its potential as a means of building community engagement in abatement. Regional development programs, alliances of local organisations, woven together by outreach techniques, could create demand for Voluntary Market offsets, ensuring a market after the Fund has finished.