NSW great koala national park funded by carbon credit deal: what it means for offsets

The New South Wales government is moving ahead with the great koala national park near Coffs Harbour, funded by a new carbon credit method approved by the Albanese government. The scheme lets the state earn credits for storing carbon in native forests previously slated for logging, with revenue supporting park creation and 100 new jobs. Carbon credits remain controversial. Critics argue they let polluters buy offsets instead of cutting emissions directly. Supporters say this deal includes safeguards to prevent logging shifting elsewhere, and could protect 12,000 koalas and over 100 threatened species. The federal method caps logging as credits are issued, aiming for additionality. For carbon market watchers, this is a real-world test of government-issued nature-based offsets. The outcome will signal whether such deals can deliver conservation without undermining emission reduction integrity.