For every appearance an Australian athlete has made at the Commonwealth Games, a native tree will be planted at our Wilyun Pools restoration site in Western Australia — creating a living legacy that celebrates athletic achievement while restoring one of the world’s 36 global biodiversity hotspots.

Delivered through Carbon Neutral’s Plant-a-Tree program and supported by our partners Gondwana Link and Wirlomin Noongar Language and Stories, the Wilyun Pools project is transforming once-degraded farmland into a thriving ecosystem. It’s a place where culture, biodiversity, and community come together to regenerate the land and reconnect with Country.

“Wilyun Pools is more than just a planting site — it’s a place where culture, sustainability, and now sporting spirit come together,” said

Dr. Phil Ireland, CEO of Carbon Neutral

Earlier this month, Commonwealth Games athletes Sam Fricker and Emily Whitehead visited Wilyun Pools to see the impact of this work firsthand, walking among the newly planted seedlings and hearing from local experts Gondwana Link about the land’s cultural significance.

This is just the beginning. With nearly 5,000 trees to be planted in the first phase alone, Legacy Leaves is proof that recognition can do more than reflect on the past — it can shape a better future.

Plant-a-Tree in our most ambitious regeneration project.

The program is restoring the natural landscape and reconnecting habitats by linking small patches of remaining vegetation to create a 200km green corridor from inland to the coast.

Plant-a-Tree grows critical habitat for native wildlife on historically cleared land in a Global Biodiversity Hotspot.

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Our Spotlight

Explore stories in the world of sustainability, carbon and climate change.

Falbala Returns to Eastern Maar: A Milestone in Land Justice and Carbon Farming

Carbon Neutral is proud to be working with Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation (EMAC) on a landmark project at Falbala, a 252-hectare property at Beech Forest in the Otways. On 3…

The market’s rediscovery of plantation forestry ACCUs 

For most of its early development, plantation forestry ACCUs occupied a niche position in the Australian carbon market. Long crediting timeframes, FullCAM-based accounting and permanence obligations stretching to 100 years made them slower…

From football to footprint: the carbon cost of the 2026 World Cup

Businesses have had to answer for their emissions and take real steps to offset them since 2013, when the UK became the first country in the world to make carbon reporting mandatory for its largest…

Unpacking Australia’s Biodiversity Claims vs Reality

Australia recently submitted its Seventh National Report to the Convention on Biological Diversity, its first under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF).   At first glance the report suggests that we’re a nation “on…

Carbon Neutral launches Australia’s largest environmental planting carbon project.

Great Woodlands Renewal project to restore 28,000 hectares and establish 16 million trees adjoining one of the world’s largest remaining temperate woodland ecosystems. Carbon Neutral has unveiled plans for what…

Carbon Neutral Announces New Chief Commercial Officer

Carbon Neutral is thrilled to announce the appointment of Su-Mei Sain as the organisation’s Chief Commercial Officer.  Since joining the company last year as Head of Investment Opportunities, Su-Mei has played a key role in progressing the organisation’s commercial…

Rethinking Australia’s Natural Wealth Through Carbon

Australia is a land of plenty. “Our land abounds in nature’s gifts of beauty, rich and rare,” as the national anthem tells us.  But as a nation, we’ve struggled to properly value those gifts, let alone keep…

The Quiet Shift Reshaping How Australia Protects Nature

When Carbon Neutral launched the Perenjori Hills Sanctuary last year, the timing coincided with the release of the WA Auditor General’s overview, a report that assessed if the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions…

Chemform is a family owned and operated Australian chemical manufacturer and distributer. From their humble beginnings in Western Australia, Chemform’s commitment to its core values has enabled the company to grow and develop a national footprint. Chemform supplies cleaning products and solutions to a wide variety of industries, including hospitality, health and aged care, facilities management, education, and industrial.

At Chemform, a defining vision was developed – to create non-dangerous but equally effective cleaning chemicals. Their chemists investigated scientific technology that could produce safer alternatives. After rigorous testing and innovation, Chemform introduced a range of safe and environmentally friendly cleaning products, suitable for plenty of applications across many industries.

Sustainable manufacturing and quality assurance is fundamental to Chemform’s business. Working closely with Carbon Neutral for many years, Chemform offsets a share of their annual carbon emissions, and in 2023, Chemform committed to further enhanced environmental sustainability by planting thousands of trees through the Plant-A-Tree program.

“We’ve always been proud to be a family oriented company, and a healthy environment is our legacy for future generations – the family still to come. We’re committed to taking action to protect our planet through offsetting our carbon emissions, and supporting reforestation and natural ecosystems in partnership with Carbon Neutral. We’ve gone above and beyond to make the responsible choice easy for our customers. Our decision to pursue environmentally preferable products and business practices reflects our dedication towards positive outcomes.”

Kathleen Cianfagna, Managing Director of Chemform

The business case

Chemform wanted to help their customers easily understand how the decisions and purchases they make can have a significant impact on the eco-system. The solution was beautifully simple– a transparent one-for-one transaction, with a native tree or shrub planted for every purchase of a 3x5L carton of Chemform’s popular Sapphire Concentrate range.

Chemform’s Sapphire Concentrate range has built a reputation based on its performance, compact and colour-coded design, cost-effectiveness, safety features, and commitment to environmental sustainability, including third-party GECA certification as a Good Environmental Choice.

For every 3x5L carton of Sapphire Concentrate purchased, one native tree or native shrub is planted in the Yarra Yarra Biodiversity Corridor, with thousands contributed by Chemform. By choosing Sapphire Concentrate products, customers are not just making an environmentally conscious choice – they’re helping to combat climate change.

 “When given the choice, many consumers would select an environmentally preferable option. At Chemform, we provide quality-assured cleaning solutions that are effective and eco-conscious. Programs like Carbon Neutral’s Plant-A-Tree program are a fantastic way for our company and customers to support the global efforts to reduce impact on our environment. We take great pride in our longstanding partnership with Carbon Neutral, and we’re excited about offering such a simple and effective way to care for our environment.”

Kathleen Cianfagna, Managing Director, Chemform

Our Spotlight

Explore stories in the world of sustainability, carbon and climate change.

Falbala Returns to Eastern Maar: A Milestone in Land Justice and Carbon Farming

Carbon Neutral is proud to be working with Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation (EMAC) on a landmark project at Falbala, a 252-hectare property at Beech Forest in the Otways. On 3…

The market’s rediscovery of plantation forestry ACCUs 

For most of its early development, plantation forestry ACCUs occupied a niche position in the Australian carbon market. Long crediting timeframes, FullCAM-based accounting and permanence obligations stretching to 100 years made them slower…

From football to footprint: the carbon cost of the 2026 World Cup

Businesses have had to answer for their emissions and take real steps to offset them since 2013, when the UK became the first country in the world to make carbon reporting mandatory for its largest…

Unpacking Australia’s Biodiversity Claims vs Reality

Australia recently submitted its Seventh National Report to the Convention on Biological Diversity, its first under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF).   At first glance the report suggests that we’re a nation “on…

Carbon Neutral launches Australia’s largest environmental planting carbon project.

Great Woodlands Renewal project to restore 28,000 hectares and establish 16 million trees adjoining one of the world’s largest remaining temperate woodland ecosystems. Carbon Neutral has unveiled plans for what…

Carbon Neutral Announces New Chief Commercial Officer

Carbon Neutral is thrilled to announce the appointment of Su-Mei Sain as the organisation’s Chief Commercial Officer.  Since joining the company last year as Head of Investment Opportunities, Su-Mei has played a key role in progressing the organisation’s commercial…

Rethinking Australia’s Natural Wealth Through Carbon

Australia is a land of plenty. “Our land abounds in nature’s gifts of beauty, rich and rare,” as the national anthem tells us.  But as a nation, we’ve struggled to properly value those gifts, let alone keep…

The Quiet Shift Reshaping How Australia Protects Nature

When Carbon Neutral launched the Perenjori Hills Sanctuary last year, the timing coincided with the release of the WA Auditor General’s overview, a report that assessed if the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions…

At Carbon Neutral, we are committed to helping businesses integrate strategies to mitigate the climate crisis because sustainable practices need to be part of caring for our planet.

It’s easy at this time of the year to get lost in the environmentally damaging consumerism of the festive period, and with just over two weeks left, now is the time to act and give a more sustainable gift that’s really worth giving.

Choosing sustainable gifts is about considering each item’s health, environmental and social impact. As with all sustainable shopping, this includes where the product was made, the materials it was made from, how it is packaged, and any energy efficiency ratings. 

Sustainable gifting is an opportunity to take your sustainability journey a step further by actively supporting causes that you feel passionate about and minimising the amount of unwanted gifts and waste associated with the festive period.

At this time of the year, we must ask ourselves if our loved ones really need the gift we are buying them or if a donation or an e-card with the intent of them choosing their own gift would be more appropriate.

Here are some options for last minute sustainable gifts. 

Karst

A sustainable stationary and notebook company based in New South Wales invested in delivering products that are 100% tree-free.

Karst is passionate about inspiring others to do more and create more, but not at the planet’s expense. As a certified B Corporation, Karst is committed to the highest verified standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability. For Karst, this includes the carbon emissions involved in delivery, production, and even the elevator they ride at the office.

View their commitment to sustainability

Buy

Lightly

Lightly is a Melbourne-based online homewares retailer committed to creating products with care, intention, and gratitude. Since 2020, Lightly has committed to planting a tree for every online order over $50 in partnership with Carbon Neutral’s Plant-a-Tree Conservation Program.

“It’s always been our purpose of making sensory design accessible, and enriching people’s lives to recharge through these spaces. These sanctuaries and moments of rest make it possible to give back and fuel the earth.”

View their commitment to sustainability

Buy

Eco Modern Essentials

ECO. Modern Essentials are a Gold Coast based wellness brand specialising in 100% pure essential oils and blends to support health and wellbeing. 
 
With a firm commitment to enhancing the health and well-being of their community, ECO. Modern Essentials also ensure the preservation of the environment across their entire supply chain and operations. They continually strive to improve what they do in all aspects of the business. Here at Carbon Neutral, we also love that they acknowledge that they are not perfect (which of us is!) but they always strive to be better.

View their commitment to sustainability

Buy

Sheet Society

We spend one-third of our lives sleeping, so why wouldn’t you want to enjoy it in complete comfort?

Sheet Society is a Melbourne-based online retailer that believes in making better choices throughout the design, production and delivery processes. With Carbon Neutral, Sheet Society has offset 2,000 Tonnes of CO2 and is committed to working towards net zero emissions and addressing the climate crisis.

View their commitment to sustainability

Buy

Yarra Yarra Biodiversity Corridor – Plant-a-Tree Program – Australia

We couldn’t provide a list of sustainable, festive gift suggestions without recommending our own trees!

The Yarra Yarra Biodiversity Corridor is a program that is restoring the natural landscape and reconnecting habitats by linking small patches of remaining vegetation to create a 200km green corridor from inland to the coast. Planting trees in the corridor grows critical habitat for native wildlife on historically cleared land in a Global Biodiversity Hotspot.

You may be eligible to become a Carbon Neutral Partner* when you purchase this product.

This is not a carbon offset – please visit our offsets product page.

Buy

Biodiverse Reforestation Carbon Offsets – Australia

Biodiverse Reforestation Carbon Offsets remove CO2 from the atmosphere every day. This project is also helping to restore a native ecosystem. It enhances our shared natural capital with habitat restoration and land conservation and brings social and economic benefits. 

Surrender of Offsets
Carbon Neutral periodically surrenders offsets purchased online in batches. Therefore, the names of purchasing entities will not be identifiable and purchasers will not be provided with individual serial numbers for transactions made online.

Buy

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs, also known as the Global Goals) are 17 calls to action for all countries to achieve peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future.

The 17 SDGs were adopted by all UN member states in 2015 as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Their development is built on decades of work by the UN and its member countries dating back to the 1992 Earth Summit in Brazil.

The aim of the Global Goals is to end poverty by improving health and education, reducing inequality and spurring economic growth – whilst tackling the climate crisis and preserving our precious biodiversity.

How is progress toward the Global Goals measured?

Each of the 17 Goals has specific targets and associated indicators for these targets. For example, Goal 13: Climate Action, has the target 13.3: Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning. This target has an associated indicator 13.3.2: Number of countries that have communicated the strengthening of institutional, systemic and individual capacity-building to implement adaptation, mitigation and technology transfer, and development actions.

Today, the Division for Sustainable Development Goals in the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs provides substantive support and capacity-building for the SDGs. This body is tasked with making the 2030 Agenda a reality, by translating the commitments of nations and organisations into real-world actions that can be implemented around the globe. This group also plays a key role in advocacy, education, and outreach relating to the SDGs.

Each year, the UN Secretary General presents an annual UN SDG Progress Report, based on the target and indicator framework. This integrates data and information collected by UN member countries.

How does Carbon Neutral align with the UN SDGs?

Carbon Neutral as an organisation and through our carbon project development contributes to the UN SDGs. Our Yarra Yarra Biodiversity Corridor project measures and reports on its contributions to the SDGs by linking its impacts to the most relevant SDG target. This monitoring forms a key part of our Gold Standard certification, of which we are the only carbon project in Australia to achieve.

These contributions were identified and analysed based on existing evidence and methodological approaches that focus on quantifiable data, forming a key component of the Co-Benefits Report investigating the Corridor project.

Goal 13: Climate Action

The Corridor project reconnects and restores fragmented and declining (remnant) woodland and shrubland which provides habitat for threatened flora and fauna.

Over the project’s lifetime, more than 1 million tonnes of CO2 will captured from the atmosphere by the native trees and shrubs we’ve planted so far, and we’re just getting started.

Goal 15: Life on Land

The Corridor project is situated in one of 36 Global Biodiversity Hotspots, home to thousands of endemic species prioritised for conservation.

We plant a biodiverse mix of 40-60 species to restore the Eucalpytus woodland and Acacia shrubland ecosystems that thrived in the region before they were cleared.

This is creating habitat for endangered species like Malleefowl, Western Spiny-tailed skink, and Carnaby’s Black Cockatoo.

Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

Through the project and since fiscal year 2015/16, 43 FTEs have been created, allowing local workers to develop new skills and career opportunities since the start of the project. Furthermore, more than 80 local businesses have so far been engaged for goods and services as a direct result of the project.

Of the 43 FTEs employed for planting activities since fiscal year 2015/16, 9 identify as Indigenous.

Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

Water quality is assumed to improve due to reduced surface runoff and reduction in sediment and nutrient loads in water catchments.

Groundwater levels and salt concentrations are also expected to reduce over time.

Goal 3: Good Health and Wellbeing

Through providing employment opportunities for local people, the project supports better health of local communities.

By ensuring a continued protection of culturally significant heritage sites, the project potentially contributes positively to mental health and wellbeing of Indigenous communities as it supports connection to Country which in turn can have a positive impact on the sense of belonging and identity of Indigenous communities.

Goal 4: Quality Education

The project is providing training and education opportunities for local communities by delivering induction and job-specific training sessions for the local employees. The project is also partnering with the Morawa (Regional) Agricultural College providing students with opportunities to undertake training on carbon farming, environmental management and greater awareness of climate change impacts.

Goal 17: Partnerships for the Goals

Carbon Neutral has partnered with 11 local and national organisations including WWF, BirdLife Australia, Department of Parks and Wildlife, Bush Heritage, and Murdoch University.

Carbon Neutral has established a working agreement with Midwest Employment and Economic Development Aboriginal Corporation (MEEDAC), an Indigenous organisation focused on finding work opportunities within the shires within which the Yarra Yarra Biodiversity Corridor is found.

How can your business contribute to sustainable development?

The UN SDGs empower organisations with opportunities to demonstrate their environmental, social, and economic value they bring to their customers, stakeholders, and the wider community.

A report published by the Business and Sustainable Development Commission in 2017 shows how pursuing the SDGs could unlock USD $12 trillion in new market opportunities per year by 2030

Carbon Neutral can help you support carbon offset projects that deliver on the SDGs. Our Yarra Yarra Biodiversity Corridor project and the international offset projects we are licensed to sell contribute to different combinations of the 17 Goals.

We can help you balance your carbon footprint by supporting the projects that fits your business’ strategy and scope, such as focusing on locations or causes most relevant to them. For example, a business in the marine industry may wish to support a project that is delivering positive action to Goal 14: Life Below Water.

The UN has recommended 5 actions that all businesses can take to contribute to sustainable development:

1. Build your case

As a first step, businesses can see that the SDGs offer opportunities rather than barriers, and that business leadership and action is essential to achieving them as best and as quickly as possible. Change will not be realised without the private sector.

2. Assess yourself

Wondering how you measure up? Businesses can use the SDG Action Manager to assess your impact and identify the top risks and opportunities. Organisations can then use this define your priorities and set clear goals and targets.

3. Let the goals loose

Your organisation’s employees need to know about your mission. They don’t need to be locked to the sustainability team – everyone can have an important role in developing and implementing action. Check out this employee guide as a great example.

4. Shout it from the rooftops

Your customers and community should know how your organisation is contribution to the Global Goals. You can include the SDG icons on your website, social media, and communications materials like announcements and newsletters. Announcements can be linked to the appropriate corresponding Goal(s). Here are the branding resources to capitalise on your commitment.

5. Partner up

Partnerships are essential to achieving the Goals. There are many outstanding organisations and initiatives out there to help businesses work together, such as B Corp, SDG Compass, Business Fights Poverty, and Impact 2030.

Here are five of the biggest takeaways from the UN Climate Conference:

1. Deforestation

One of the first announcements at COP26 was 141 countries agreeing to end global deforestation by 2030. The declaration commits to “working collectively to halt and reverse forest loss and land degradation by 2030, while delivering sustainable development and promoting an inclusive rural transformation”.

Importantly, countries that are deforestation hotspots such as Brazil, Indonesia, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo signed the agreement. The pledge seeks to create holistic stewardship of forests across the world, by taking action in sustainable production, infrastructure development, trade, and greater support for Indigenous peoples and local communities.

However, like most of the commitments made at COP, words need to be backed by action. The drivers behind deforestation, like beef and palm oil production, need to be tackled for this pledge to make a real change.

2. Coal

We’ve been mining coal for thousands of years and using it to generate power since the late 19^th century. The canary has been singing for many years now that our dirtiest fuel source needs to be a thing of the past, and last week more than 40 countries agreed that using coal as a fuel source to generate electricity must come to an end.

Large coal-using countries like the United Kingdom, Canada, and South Korea all signed the agreement to phase out coal by 2030 or 2040, deeming it essential to limiting global warming to 1.5°C.

Disappointingly, some of the world’s largest coal-users like the US, China, and Australia were missing from the agreement. However, coal is quickly becoming more expensive than renewable energy and this economic reality means many investors have already jumped ship.

3. Methane

Methane warms the climate about 84 times more than carbon dioxide, but methane also remains in the atmosphere for around 12 years compared to the hundred-year presence of CO^₂. This means cutting methane emissions now could have a rapid impact on reducing global warming whilst CO^₂ emissions take longer to be reduced.

Under the Global Methane Pledge announced at COP26, more than 100 countries have agreed to shrink their methane emissions by 30% by 2030. This was backed up by commitments of US$325 million from foundations and philanthropy groups.

Australia is once again lagging behind the rest of the developed world by not signing the pledge and making no commitment to cut its methane emissions, despite having one of the highest global per capita methane emissions from its large coal and agricultural industries.

It’s especially disappointing because the solutions to reduce methane are within reach. One great innovative example is Australian company Sea Forest who have developed agricultural feed supplements from seaweed that reduces livestock methane emissions by up to 98%. Sea Forest’s seaweed was used to feed the sheep used for cotton by Carbon Neutral partner M. J. Bale in 2021.

4. Shipping

The global shipping industry pumps out more than a billion tonnes of CO^₂ emissions every year, making up around 3% of the global total. Twelve countries, led by Denmark, announced an ambitious target at COP26 for global shipping to reach net zero emissions by 2050, and setting new reductions targets to be met by 2023.

The Clydebank Declaration was also signed by 19 countries, including Australia, to commit to so-called ‘green shipping corridors’ of zero-emission fuel routes with port infrastructure and technology developments such as hydrogen fuels. Such a route is being proposed for Australia’s iron ore shipping journey to Japan, which is the most heavily emitting route on the planet.

Critics say the plan is more likely to sink than stay afloat, criticizing it for lack of detail and immediate short-term actions to be taken. Along with aviation, the shipping industry still has a long way to go to align with the reductions required to reach a 1.5°C goal; of the 50,000 ships currently in international trade, only 200 will be ‘green ships’ by 2030.

5. Finance

Like most things in politics, money runs the show. Climate finance, which is transnational flow of money from developed to developing economies, was a key undercurrent of most discussions and agreements at COP26. These issues are particularly pertinent, as it’s developing countries that are tipped to face the worse effects of the climate crisis such as more intense droughts and fiercer floods, and developed economies that are most responsible for emissions.

The African Group of Negotiators on Climate Change called for US$700 billion in climate finance every year from 2025 to help the continent adapt to climate-caused damage and loss. At 2009’s COP15 in Copenhagen, rich countries agreed to commit $100 billion annually, but they’ve failed to deliver on their promise and delivered only around $80 billion.

New finance goals were also proposed for climate adaptation separate to emission reduction as adaptation is urgently needed while climate targets continue to fail to be met.

Australia committed $500 million of climate finance on the first day of COP26, with funds to go toward projects in the neighbouring Indo-Pacific region. Pacific countries like Fiji have criticised Australia’s meager emission reduction targets in the past, as they face potentially huge consequences from the climate crisis. Barbados’ Prime Minister, Mia Mottley, delivered one of the most powerful moments of COP26, stating that a 2°C rise in global temperature would be a “death sentence” and called for more funding to small island nations on the frontlines of climate change.

Positives steps forward or a global COP out?

Many more issues were brought to the table at COP26, such as carbon trading and electric vehicles, and a lot more developments undoubtedly took place behind the scenes.

The ultimate mission of COP26 was to ‘keep 1.5 alive’, and 137 of the 197 UNFCCC countries have now pledged net zero targets, (only 13 of which have been legislated).

The scientific community and other critics say world leaders have missed the opportunity to use COP26 to spark the change that’s needed to protect a planet on the brink; even if all commitments promised at COP26 are met, temperature increase by 2100 will overshoot 1.5°C and hit 2.4-2.6°C above pre-industrial levels. Perhaps this should come as no surprise when the largest delegation present at the conference was the fossil fuel lobby.

Despite the promises of progress, the question remains whether real action will be delivered before it’s too late.

Year upon year, these seeds and seedlings will become vital animal habitat, and food sources, restore the soil, and capture carbon emissions from the atmosphere to become their roots, stems, and leaves. This establishment is the kick-starting of a long process of reforestation.

Planting took place in our Yarra Yarra Biodiversity Corridor, a reforestation project aiming to create a 200km corridor of native vegetation on degraded land. We’re partnered with hundreds of businesses and organisations to plant trees in the Corridor to provide nature-based climate solutions.

This year’s planting season was helped by the big rains brought by Tropical Cyclone Seroja. The opportunity to plant on moist ground was seized, giving the seeds and seedlings the best chance of establishment.

Planting at our Red Plains property comprised just shy of 500 hectares on a mix of clay, gravel, and rocky soils that required different and targeted restoration planning. Our planting team has a deep knowledge of the landscape and how to restore it to a thriving woodland ecosystem.

At all planting areas, a mix of both seeds and seedlings are planted. Longer-living overstory species like eucalypt and malaleuca can find it difficult to regenerate by seed, and so were raised as seedlings in the nearby Parnells Nursery in Tincurrin. Carbon Neutral has developed successful direct-seeding methods over the last 20 years for many species planted as seed.

The Wilton Wells and Hillview properties had extensive planting in 2020, and so less planting occurred in 2021. Insect and weed monitoring will be ongoing as the vegetation continues to establish in the coming years.

We’re always looking for ways to improve and build on our planting approaches, and this year was no different. Different site preparations and seed mix combinations were trialled with the aim of getting the best survival rates through the intense heat of the WA summer.

We’re looking forward to planting even more trees in 2022!

We are well underway into a sixth major extinction event, with global populations of mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, and amphibians dropping by 68% between 1970 and 2016.

In April of this year 13000 scientists from 153 countries agreed it has become time to replace ‘climate change’ with ‘climate emergency’ in their writing, discussions, and media outreach. When there’s a change in the weather, maybe we’ll try to remember to take our umbrella with us. When it’s an emergency, it’s time for bigger actions and tough decisions to be made. 

The problems are glaringly obvious in our own backyard. In September 2020, Australia was singled out by the United Nations for all the wrong reasons; we are the global leader in mammal extinctions.

It’s not rocket science

Carbon emissions must be drastically reduced if we are to keep the planet from warming more than 1.5 degrees C by 2050, a key threshold recognised by governing bodies across the globe and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. 

However, current trends suggest we’re well on our way to surpassing 1.5°C, with emissions spiralling and reductions lagging far behind. We need to find a way to capture carbon already in the atmosphere whilst also shrinking future emissions. 

Capturing carbon has been a hot topic of climate discussions for a long time. It seems like every week a new idea for capturing greenhouse gas emissions appears. Often the wild, planetary-scale technologies such as injecting millions of tons of sulphuric acid into the stratosphere to reflect the sun’s radiation, seem reminiscent of The Jetsons or a high school science fair. 

We may need these far-flung ideas one day if we surpass 1.5°C, but if we do the consequences will be devastating. By then, millions of people living on low-lying nations, farmers reliant on stable weather, and children unexposed to new diseases will be facing enormous risks. 

It becomes crystal clear then that the time for change isn’t in the future, it’s right now.

Luckily, one of the largest carbon drawdown mechanisms on the planet is available to us right now, and they’ve already had hundreds of millions of years of practice – trees.

Trees absorb carbon from the atmosphere using a special chemical called chlorophyll in plant cells.

Captured carbon dioxide is used by the plant to grow, and this releases oxygen into the air for organisms to breathe.

Carbon that has become leaves, stems, bark, and branches fall from the tree, ending up in the soil.

Carbon can remain in the plant and soils for millennia, forming food and habitat.

Capturing carbon, but so much more

Since 2008, Carbon Neutral’s reforestation projects have planted more than 30 million trees and shrubs across 14000 hectares. This is Australia’s largest carbon sink, and the first to achieve Gold Standard biodiverse offset certification.

One million tonnes of carbon will be stored by the trees and shrubs that have been planted already, and this will only grow as the project continues to expand each year as more businesses take action on their environmental impact.

But there’s even more to the magic. Whilst taking up huge amounts of carbon from the atmosphere as they grow, trees form the vital component of land ecosystems that allows life to flourish.

“It’s amazing, the capacity that nature has to heal itself.”

– Paul Leadley, Professor and Director at Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services

By planting a mix of more than 60 native tree and shrub species, sourced from localised seed banks, the re-planted woodland becomes a thriving habitat. The image of row upon row of a single tree species planted in monoculture is nowhere to be seen. 

Underground, amidst the tangle of roots and microorganisms, these restored ecosystems recycle nutrients and reduce salinity. One of the biggest problems the Wheatbelt faces is rising water tables and erosion of soil. The re-planted vegetation combats both these issues; more water can infiltrate the enhanced soil structure, and once its there can be retained far longer to grow the plants above the surface.

A biodiverse home to thousands

Australia’s southwest is recognised as a Global Biodiversity Hotspot – one of only two in Australia. For hundreds of millions of years these ecosystems have been home to thousands of plants and animals found nowhere else in the world. And now, the Corridor is helping bring many back from the brink of extinction.

Why a corridor? It’s like having the grocery store on your doorstep, rather than a two hour road trip away. The re-planted pockets are connected to remnant bush and conservation reserves, preventing the isolation that can lead to species decline. This lets animals move between a larger area to access food and water, disperse pollen, and provides a buffer to external threats which can also be more easily managed. 

As the ecosystem grows over time, carbon emissions from the atmosphere become stems, bark, and leaves, building up shelter and food sources for wildlife. The endangered Western Spiny-tailed Skink or Meelyu relies on this biomass year-round in the form of log ‘castles’ to nest in hollows and fallen branches. 

Monitoring projects undertaken at Hill View and Terra Grata (two properties in the Corridor where revegetation has been underway since 2010) have been tracking the restoration of these ecosystems. Birds and plants of local conservation significance like the Malleefowl are continually being recorded, with biodiversity rising and rising.

Our responsibility

Ecological devastation continues to wreak havoc, but one of the steps we have the power to take today is using the natural carbon cycle of trees to make a difference right now.

Carbon Neutral’s Yarra Yarra Biodiversity Corridor also tackles a second problem by creating biodiverse and sustainable native habitat for WA’s endemic species, many of which are under threat.

So far, hundreds of Australian and international businesses have contributed to the recovery of the endangered Malleefowl, Carnaby’s Black Cockatoo, and Western Spiny Tailed Skink by offsetting their emissions in the Corridor project whilst restoring native ecosystems at the same time.

“To care about climate change, we don’t have to be a certain type of person or live in a certain place or vote a certain way: all we have to be is a human living on this planet, and we’re all that.”

– Katharine Hayhoe, Co-Director of Climate Centre and professor of political science at Texas Tech University

The problem of the climate emergency can seem daunting, downright scary, and a threat already too big to be stopped. But projects like this represent an exciting opportunity to claim responsibility over our environment and everything we share it with. 

The solutions are within our reach, and acting now through contributing to the growth of Corridor might just let us stand a chance.

Sources

Fischetti, M 2021. ‘We Are Living in a Climate Emergency, and We’re Going to Say So’, Scientific American, viewed May 17 2021, https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/we-are-living-in-a-climate-emergency-and-were-going-to-say-so/

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change 2019, IPCC Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate, viewed May 17 2021, https://www.ipcc.ch/srocc/chapter/chapter-4-sea-level-rise-and-implications-for-low-lying-islands-coasts-and-communities/

Shark Bay World Heritage. ‘Spiny-tailed Skinks’, viewed June 8 2021, https://www.sharkbay.org/publications/fact-sheets-guides/spiny-tailed-skinks/

United Nations Secretary-General. ‘Remarks to the One Planet Summit’, United Nations, viewed May 21 2021, https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/sg/speeches/2021-01-11/remarks-one-planet-summit

We are pleased to announce that Carbon Neutral will welcome onboard Tiverton Agriculture Impact Fund (TAIF) as our new major shareholder, effective from 1 July 2021. 

TAIF owns and manages a diverse portfolio of sustainably managed agricultural properties including broad acre cropping, horticulture and natural capital assets including soil carbon sequestration and biodiversity preservation projects.

Reforestation has been recognised globally as a key component of society’s race to net zero, and one of the most effective methods of removing carbon from the atmosphere.  Carbon Neutral’s reforestation projects fit perfectly into TAIF’s portfolio.

The investment by TAIF will see the further development of our iconic  Yarra Yarra Biodiversity Corridor project in Western Australia and allow the expansion of our operations to other parts of WA and Australia’s eastern states. Experienced forestry investor and carbon farming pioneer, Tony Jack has been appointed to lead this phase of growth.

Carbon Neutral’s visionary founder, Denis Watson, will retain his shareholding in the business and is pleased to know that his legacy of a green corridor will be preserved and extended around the country.

“This is a fantastic outcome. Partnering with a like-minded group like TAIF will give us the extra capacity to significantly increase our biodiverse planting programs for the benefit of the environment, our clients and, most importantly, future generations.”

TIAF is a leader in biodiversity recovery projects throughout Australia, they have been involved in multiple recovery programs for threatened and endangered Australian species. Nigel Sharp, Tiverton CEO says he is “looking forward to bringing our experience in biodiversity regeneration to compliment the Carbon Neutral team.”

Carbon Neutral’s Gold Standard certified reforestation project in the Corridor is already on track to sequester more than 1 million tonnes of CO₂-e  by the trees that we’ve planted to date.  Tiverton’s investment will see more trees being planted more quickly and even more carbon being removed from the atmosphere in an ecologically sustainable way.

Carbon Neutral is now working with our new shareholder to develop new projects and climate mitigation products, which will be rolled out over the coming months for our growing client base.  We remain committed to providing carbon advisory services and helping organisations minimise their impact through measuring, reducing, and compensating for unavoidable emissions.  

Read more about Tiverton in the article Green Farming Australia featured in the Weekend Australian.

The ABC recently featured a news article on Australia’s carbon market and highlighted our biodiverse reforestation project at the Yarra Yarra Biodiversity Corridor. 

Since 2008, we have planted 30 million native trees and shrubs to create one of the largest biodiverse reforestation carbon sinks in the world. 

As pressure builds on the Australian Government to do more to tackle climate change, a growing number of businesses are taking the initiative, volunteering to curb their carbon footprint and offset their emissions.

Our General Manager, Georgiana Rogers, spoke to ABC reporter Claire Moodie about the growing number of enquiries we are receiving from concerned business owners wanting to reverse the harmful effects of climate change. 

The science [on climate change] is now pretty much universally accepted,” Ms Rogers said.

“If businesses are wanting to get investment from capital funds, they are increasingly being asked what are they doing about the climate,” she said.

View ABC’s video below or read the full article; Demand soars for carbon offset services as Australian businesses take lead on climate change.