Climate Change Authority endorses regional NRM plans to deliver for nature and communities

NRM Regions Australia welcomes the release of the CCA’s 2026 review of the Carbon Farming Initiative (CFI) Act and ACCU scheme. 

We support CCA’s finding that regional natural resource management (NRM) plans can help identify where carbon projects may deliver biodiversity, water, resilience, cultural and regional development outcomes.

The review quotes the NRM Regions Australia submission as follows:

‘Better alignment of carbon projects with NRM plans can support the achievement of numerous additional outcomes that align with Australian Government objectives for biodiversity and other outcomes, such as community development. Such alignment would also support social licence for the ACCU Scheme, because regional NRM plans are informed by, and developed in partnership with, the people that live in those regions.’ 

NRM Regions Australia’s Carbon Lead Rachel Clarke said:

“It’s really pleasing to see that CCA and others recognise that carbon investment can be used to deliver many more benefits for nature, people, and climate resilience – and the way to achieve this lies in using regional NRM plans and other community-led planning to inform projects.”

Other review submissions note that the CFI requirement to make a statement on whether carbon projects are consistent with regional NRM plans is insufficiently explained, monitored, or enforced. This matches our longstanding advice to the Australian Government. 

Other review recommendations that aligned with our submission include the recommendation that the Australian Government prioritise credible public and First Nations benefits in any future Government purchasing, and that the ACCU scheme should increase transparency – giving buyers clearer, more accessible information about ACCUs, projects and market activity.

The CCA review also found that while the Carbon Farming Outreach Program filled a short-term gap in providing independent advice about carbon farming to landholders, there is still a need for clearer communication and practical guidance to help farmers understand how the ACCU Scheme works and whether participation is suitable for their circumstances. 

Ms Clarke said:

“Regional NRM organisation staff are the trusted, independent advisors that landholders across Australia often seek out as their first point of contact for new opportunities like this. Funding NRMs to work with landholders on carbon projects will ensure landholders have access to independent advice that fits with their personal and business aspirations.”

NRM Regions Australia’s submission to the review is here, and link to the CCA report is here.