As traded commodities go, the carbon market has shouldered more than its fair share of controversy in its relatively short life.
As the Australian carbon market evolves from voluntary to regulatory, criticism of the Australian Carbon Credit Unit (ACCU) has persisted — from concerns over carbon farming credibility to issues with verification and oversight.
Advertisement
With roughly 215 of Australia’s top emitters preparing their first submissions on carbon offsets by March 2025 under the deadline for the safeguard mechanism, interest in carbon projects, credit trading and broker operations has surged, reigniting interest in the historically illiquid ACCU market.
Tighter emissions caps are driving more Australian companies to trade, while international players controlling facilities like power stations and mines are also entering the market. As the market matures, brokers are moving from over-the-counter (OTC) trades to more sophisticated derivative products, such as futures, forwards and options.
