Australia's Department of Climate Change is winding down the Climate Active voluntary carbon neutral certification scheme. The Environmental Defenders Office and the Australia Institute had criticized the program for allowing companies to rely heavily on offsets instead of making real emissions cuts, and for excluding scope 3 emissions. The government now says stronger national targets make the voluntary scheme less necessary. The consultation on whether to fully close the program or keep some standards runs until September 18, 2026. Critics argue the certification let businesses like Tokyo Gas and Ampol market themselves as climate leaders while offsetting only a small portion of their total footprint. The move signals a shift toward mandatory climate disclosures and away from voluntary offset-based claims.
