Labor names three independent experts to Chubb-led review of carbon credits

The Australian Government has appointed three independent experts to join the panel chaired by former chief scientist Professor Ian Chubb (AC) that is undertaking a review into the credibility of Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs).

Chris Bowen, the minister for climate change and energy, announced on Monday that Dr Annabelle Bennett, Ariadne Gorring, and Steve Hatfield-Dodds will join Professor Chubb, who was appointed to chair the panel when it was first announced on July 1.

The review of the Emissions Reduction Fund was commissioned after the former chair of the scheme’s watchdog turned whistle-blower said the carbon offsets issued under the scheme lack integrity and amounted to a “fraud on the environment”.

“The Government wants to make sure it remains a strong and credible scheme supported by participants, purchasers and the broader community,” Bowen said in a statement earlier this month. “The review will achieve that goal.”

The review is to be chaired by Chubb, a former vice-chancellor of the Australian National University and a former chief scientist, who sat on the inaugural board of the Climate Change Authority.

“A strong carbon crediting system will help Australia meet its emissions reduction targets and better support our regional economies,” said Bowen on Monday.

“The expertise and experience of these new members will be invaluable in ensuring a comprehensive review of the ACCU system. I am confident that this review will lead to our carbon crediting system operating at the highest standard.”

The four-person panel will seek written submissions as well as conduct meetings with relevant academics and experts, First Nations groups, project proponents, aggregators, industry and consumer groups, business, community representatives, and government agencies.

Gorring is a co-CEO of the Pollination Foundation, Bennett is a retired Judge of the Federal Court and Hatfield-Dodds is an honorary professor of public policy at the Australian National University.