A significant part of GreenCollar’s work is dedicated to ensuring that the policies governing environmental markets are informed by both practical experience on the ground and the best available science.
GreenCollar has more than 14 years of experience delivering environmental markets, partnerships with hundreds of landholders, deep technical expertise in carbon methodologies and a strong understanding of demand for environmental credits.
So we are well placed to help governments design policies that are practical for landholders, maintain market integrity and support long-term investment.
Well-designed policy is essential to maintaining market integrity, giving landholders and investors confidence, and ensuring environmental markets deliver measurable and lasting benefits for farms, regional communities and the environment.
“…we are well placed to help governments design policies that are practical for landholders, maintain market integrity and support long-term investment.”
Over the past year, GreenCollar has helped shape the policy conversations that will determine the future of Australia’s carbon and nature markets.
We made formal submissions to more than a dozen government and industry consultations at both federal and state levels. These drew on experience and insights gained from working alongside landholders, which has included the practical challenges of navigating complex rules, managing long-term projects and responding to changing market and regulatory requirements.
We have been pleased to find that GreenCollar’s views are increasingly sought out and valued by ministers, parliamentarians, government departments and key institutions, including the Emissions Reduction Assurance Committee and the Clean Energy Regulator.
Discussions provide an important opportunity to bring practical experience from landholders and regional Australia into policy development, and help ensure new rules are workable on the ground.
On the carbon front, we contributed to Australian Government reviews of ACCU Scheme methods, including the Savanna Fire Management and Reforestation of Environmental Planting methods, and have or will make submissions on Carbon Credits legislation amendments, the Safeguard Mechanism Review and the Climate Change Authority’s 2026 ACCU Scheme Review.
Next-generation vegetation methods
Our contribution to the development of two significant next-generation vegetation methods, designed to expand opportunities for farmers and landholders to participate in environmental markets, while maintaining high environmental integrity, was of particular importance.
The first of these, the proposed Avoided Re-clearing and Native Reforestation (ARNR) method, would combine avoided re-clearing of native forests with native reforestation through planting or natural regeneration.
The Queensland Government, which is leading the development of the method, responded positively to many of GreenCollar’s recommendations.
The proposed Integrated Farm and Land Management (IFLM) method is the second, which would provide a modular ACCU Scheme framework. It would allow landholders to combine multiple vegetation and carbon management activities across a single property within one audit and reporting structure.
Our feedback contributed to the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water strengthening its recognition of direct biomass measurement, which can provide greater confidence that credited carbon outcomes reflect what is measured on the ground.
We also participated in consultation on the Carbon Farming Outreach Program, contributing practical insights to the development of training and resources for landholders who are considering participation in carbon markets.
GreenCollar advocated for practical eligibility and implementation settings that recognise the realities of land management while maintaining strong environmental integrity.
Policy processes
Beyond carbon, GreenCollar contributed to national and state policy processes covering environmental law reform, water quality, primary industries, conservation and carbon-farming development.
These included the Senate inquiry into Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act reform, the Productivity Commission’s Net Zero inquiry and consultations in Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia.
Across these consultations, GreenCollar advocated for policies that deliver meaningful environmental outcomes, maintain market integrity, reduce unnecessary barriers for landholders, provide greater certainty for long-term projects and attract private investment into regional Australia.
Our advocacy draws on detailed technical and scientific analysis to provide governments with the evidence needed to support practical policy positions and workable solutions.
This combination of practical experience and technical expertise will be particularly important when GreenCollar contributes to the Australian Government’s 2026–27 review of the Safeguard Mechanism, which will help shape future demand for ACCUs and investment in carbon projects.
As governments continue to reform Australia’s carbon and nature markets, GreenCollar will continue bringing practical experience from regional Australia into policy discussions.
We will continue helping to ensure environmental markets remain credible, investable and capable of delivering lasting benefits for farmers, communities and nature.
