Carbon Neutral Certification

Climate Active is an ongoing partnership between the Australian Government and Australian businesses to drive voluntary climate action. The brand represents Australia’s collective effort to measure, reduce, and offset carbon emissions to lessen our negative impact on the environment. Any business or organisation, regardless of size or sector, can be Climate Active certified.

Climate Active certification is awarded to organisations that have credibly reached a state of carbon neutrality - based on an agreed emissions boundary for a specific certification type. Climate Active certification is available for organisations (business operations), products, services, events, precincts and buildings. This means that the relevant emissions associated with business operations (for example running an office) or producing a particular product (for example a bottle of wine) have no net negative impact on the climate. 

What is carbon neutrality?

To become carbon neutral, businesses and organisations calculate the greenhouse gas emissions generated by their activity, such as fuel or electricity use and travel. They reduce these emissions where possible by investing in new technology or changing how they operate.  Any remaining emissions can be 'cancelled out' by purchasing carbon offsets. Carbon offset units are generated from activities that prevent, reduce or remove greenhouse gas emissions from being released into the atmosphere. When the offsets purchased by an organisation equal the emissions produced, they are carbon neutral.

Carbon offsetting

Offset units are used to compensate for emissions a business produces, to help reduce their carbon footprint. Offset units are generated by projects that reduce, remove or capture atmospheric emissions such as reforestation, renewable energy or energy efficiency. 

For example, a project may reduce emissions by changing the timing of savanna burning in Northern Australia or capture emissions by re-vegetating a large land area. One carbon credit is issued for each tonne of emissions avoided, removed or captured from the atmosphere. 

Offset projects

There are numerous different projects generating offsets in Australia and around the world. To be certified, Climate Active members are required to use offsets that result in genuine emissions reduction. When you purchase Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) the benefits go directly to Australian communities and our environment.

We help you find trusted carbon offset projects in Australia producing ACCUs and internationally.