Government Tool Released: Major Step Forward for Climate - But Final Method Still Needed

Corporate Carbon Group (CCG), one of Australia’s largest and longest-operating Savanna Fire Management (SFM) project developers, welcomes the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW)’s release of the Savanna Carbon Accounting Model (SavCAM) for user testing.

SavCAM is a critical development for the two new proposed SFM methods under the Australian Carbon Credit Unit (ACCU) Scheme. Its release marks a significant step forward in modernizing Australia’s approach to savanna land management and ensuring emissions abatement is calculated with greater scientific precision.

“We congratulate the Department on releasing SavCAM. It’s an essential tool that will help underpin the next generation of SFM projects,” said Gary Wyatt, Managing Director of Corporate Carbon Group. “This is a big win for the climate and a testament to the dedication of rangers, landholders and Traditional Owners across the north.”

The release of SavCAM comes a week after new national data highlighted the remarkable success of SFM projects to date. According to Figure 6.1.11 of the National Inventory Report 2023, emissions from Australia’s tropical savannas have fallen by 89% since 2016, largely due to the expansion of SFM projects.

For the decade leading up to 2005, savanna emissions averaged 30.6 Mt CO₂-e per year. Since 2016, this has dropped to just 3.4 Mt CO₂-e per year, a dramatic reduction driven by early dry season burning practices supported under the ACCU Scheme.

“This is one of Australia’s most successful nature-based climate tools,” said Wyatt. “Now that SavCAM is out, it’s critical the government moves with this momentum to finalize and release the updated SFM methods.”

While the release of SavCAM is a welcome step, previous delays to the final method have stalled further emissions reductions, creating uncertainty for landholders and shaking investor confidence in the ACCU Scheme’s ability to respond to scientific and implementation needs.

Corporate Carbon is encouraging all land and carbon sector stakeholders to engage with the tool during the user testing period and help ensure that momentum leads to action.