A timely question for Australia’s carbon market
The Climate Change Authority’s (CCA’s) September 2026 review has brought an important carbon-credit attribute into sharper focus: permanence. The Authority found the Australian Carbon Credit Unit (ACCU) Scheme remains fundamentally sound, while recommending further work to test whether current permanence settings remain fit for the market.
For organisations purchasing ACCUs, whether for Safeguard Mechanism compliance or voluntary climate commitments, the review highlights an increasingly important question:
How long will the carbon stored by the project actually remain stored?
As carbon markets mature and buyers become more sophisticated, permanence is becoming an important differentiator between carbon credits.
What is permanence?
Permanence refers to the length of time a carbon project is required to maintain the carbon it has stored. Under Australia’s ACCU Scheme, sequestration projects can nominate either a:
- 25-year permanence period
- 100-year permanence period
This is different from a project’s crediting period. While a project may only generate ACCUs for a defined period, permanence obligations can continue long after ACCU issuance has ended.
The Authority’s question is a logical one: if certain emissions remain in the atmosphere for decades or centuries, then should the carbon credits used to offset those emissions also remain stored for a comparable period?
What does this review mean for ACCU buyers?
The Authority concluded that current permanence arrangements should be reviewed to ensure they remain fit for purpose as the ACCU market evolves. Key recommendations included:
- A review of permanence discount and risk-of-reversal buffer
- An assessment if ACCUs generated under 25-year permanence obligations remain adequate for emissions under the Safeguard Mechanism compliance
What is clear is that carbon credits with 100-year permanence will not be impacted. Safeguard entities should consider a potential shift to 100-year permanence carbon credits when making long-term procurement decisions to future-proof their investment. For voluntary buyers, this news is a strong indicator that the higher the project permanence period, the higher the utility of the carbon credit.
Why we choose 100-year permanence
At Pastoral Partners Australia, all of our carbon projects operate under 100-year permanence commitments. This decision reflects our belief that buyers deserve confidence that the carbon credits they purchase are delivering long-term climate outcomes.
Operating under a 100-year permanence period means our projects continue to carry carbon maintenance and monitoring obligations long after ACCUs have been generated, and represents the maximum permanence commitment currently available under the ACCU Scheme.
Our Native Forest from Managed Regrowth (NFMR) projects are built around the regeneration of native forests on previously cleared land. These projects deliver measurable carbon sequestration alongside broader environmental outcomes, including biodiversity restoration.
As permanence becomes a greater focus for regulators and both compliance and voluntary offsets, we believe long-term carbon storage credits will increasingly be recognised as a core pillar of integrity for Australian carbon projects.
Looking ahead
The Climate Change Authority’s review does not call into question the integrity of the ACCU Scheme. It concludes the scheme remains fundamentally sound while identifying opportunities to strengthen confidence as the market matures. At Pastoral Partners Australia, we welcome the review’s focus on durability and long-term integrity. As demand from both compliance and voluntary markets continues to grow, permanence is an important element to revisit.
Talk to us about 100-year permanence ACCUs
Our team can take you through the projects, the land, the management model and the evidence behind the credits you are considering, so you can purchase with clarity and confidence.
Whether you’re purchasing ACCUs to meet compliance obligations, support voluntary climate commitments, or underpin a long-term decarbonisation strategy, our team is here to help. We provide direct access to high-integrity ACCUs generated through native forest regeneration projects with 100-year permanence commitments, giving you confidence in the quality and integrity of your carbon investments.
With no brokerage fees or commissions and expert guidance from project selection through to carbon credit retirement, we make the process simple and straightforward. To speak with one of our carbon experts, complete our contact form or email us directly at info@pastoralpartners.com.au.
