Australia is reforming its emissions policies
Australia softens stance on international offsets
Government to consult on potential law change allowing big emitters to use offsets generated abroad to meet domestic limits
The Australian government has signalled it could reverse a ban on the use of international offsets by the country’s biggest industrial emitters to help meet domestic emissions limits. The softening of its stance comes as the centre-left Labor government plans a series of reforms aimed at getting on track to meet its Paris Agreement commitments, which would mean reducing emissions to 43pc below 2005 levels by 2030 and hitting net zero by 2050. Under current rules, large industrial emitters covered by Australia’s Safeguard Mechanism can only use domestic offsets, called Australian Carbon Credit Units, to keep within emissions limits imposed by the government. The Safeguard Mechanism, which has
Also in this section
28 November 2025
The launch of the bloc’s emissions trading system in 2005 was a pioneering step, but as the scheme hits 21 its impact as a driver of decarbonisation is still open to debate
18 November 2025
Vicki Hollub, president and CEO of Occidental, has been selected as the 2026 recipient of the Dewhurst Award, the highest honour bestowed by WPC Energy. The Dewhurst Award celebrates exceptional leadership, groundbreaking innovation and a lifetime of significant achievements in sup-port of the development and advancement of the energy industry.
11 November 2025
Transition policies must recognise that significant industrial demand for carbon will continue even as economies hit net zero
6 November 2025
After years of pursuing ideologically driven climate leadership, Western powers are now stepping back under mounting political pressure and rising populist opposition—prompting concern essential climate action could be sidelined
