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The Department is preparing to release an update to the Full Carbon Accounting Model (FullCAM) for public use in 2020.

Emissions Reduction Fund (ERF) project participants use the current version of FullCAM to estimate abatement for a range of ERF vegetation projects. In November 2019, the Department released a discussion paper on options for transitional arrangements to assist project participants to move to using the FullCAM update.

After considering feedback on the discussion paper, the Government has decided to allow ERF project participants to choose to use the current version of FullCAM for the life of their projects. Alternatively, project participants can choose to use the new version (or a subsequent new version) of FullCAM at any time following its release in 2020. If the new version of FullCAM is used for a project, the project will not be able to return to the current version. The current version will remain available for use once the new version has been released.

Only ERF projects registered before a specified date in 2020 will be eligible to use the current version of FullCAM. The Department will determine this date and other details of the arrangements for using different FullCAM versions in early 2020, in consultation with stakeholders. Projects registered after the specified date will need to use the updated version of FullCAM.

In addition to allowing existing projects to continue to use the current version of FullCAM, the Department will work with stakeholders to provide a robust framework for implementing existing projects and exploring new opportunities for vegetation projects. This work includes:

1. Further discussion on the nature of the changes made to FullCAM, and their implementation. This will include a forum to discuss the update to FullCAM in more detail and an avenue for users to provide further feedback on the updated model before it is finalised and released for use in ERF projects.
2. Exploring development of a new native vegetation regeneration method. This will include consideration of the option of compressed crediting (as proposed in the November 2019 discussion paper) and suggestions on method design that could improve opportunities for new projects. Any new method would use the updated version of FullCAM.
3. Developing a framework for sharing risks between the Government and ERF project participants. The aims of such a framework would be to ensure continued scheme integrity together with appropriate levels of certainty to enable continued scheme growth.

The Department will provide further details on these steps in January 2020.

Some vegetation projects registered under earlier versions of ERF methods use the Reforestation Modelling Tool (RMT) rather than FullCAM to estimate abatement. Unlike FullCAM, the RMT is not periodically updated. Projects using the RMT will be able to continue to use the RMT in its current form, or they can elect to transfer to the current method version and use the updated version of FullCAM.

Further information

• FullCAM update consultation documents
• Land Sector Reporting