Climate technology firm Maki Planet Systems, a subsidiary of Australia's Corporate Carbon Group, does not initially anticipate developing Article 6.4 savanna fire management (SFM) carbon projects in Australia. But a decision would depend on whether the Australian government will eventually allow carbon projects to export their credits to other countries, head of carbon services Robin Gonzalez told Argus. Edited highlights follow:
The UN has recently launched a public consultation on a global SFM methodology under Article 6.4 of the Paris agreement, which was developed by Maki Planet Systems. What is the expected timeframe for this proposal?
Timelines under the Article 6.4 mechanism are influenced by UNFCCC procedures and evolving priorities, so exact completion dates are difficult to predict. Our expectation is that the methodology will be finalised in 2026, following current public input and review phases.
If successful, when could the first projects be registered and when could we expect to see the first credits issued?
Assuming continued progress in operationalising the Paris Agreement Crediting Mechanism (Pacm) framework, the first projects could be registered immediately, with credits for 2026 activities issued in 2027.
Does Maki Planet Systems plan to develop projects in any specific countries?
The methodology is designed for woody savannas worldwide, not confined to one region. This includes the Miombo woodlands of southern Africa, the Cerrado in Brazil and other woody savanna regions across South America and southern Asia. Maki Planet Systems is currently evaluating readiness, enabling conditions and viability in multiple countries to prioritise early-stage project opportunities once the methodology is approved.
As it stands, we support two pilot projects in Botswana, following a DFAT [Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade]-funded mission in 2021 where Kimberley rangers demonstrated the Australian SFM method to local communities. Since then, Maki Planet Systems and the International Savanna Fire Management Initiative have continued to build capacity, which has enabled the project teams to deliver successful abatement outcomes that we hope to bring into Pacm as fully commercial projects.
Maki has also identified more than 20mn hectares of pipeline projects in the broader Kavango-Zambezi region, with strong interest from conservation organisations and governments. We also have a pilot project in the Cerrado and have identified a significant pipeline of Indigenous-led projects there as well.
Would you potentially develop projects in Australia, which would then not be under the Australian Carbon Credit Unit (ACCU) Scheme?
That remains to be determined, but most likely not. The ACCU Scheme remains the best way to implement projects domestically. Australia's ACCU market is mature and well established. We don't anticipate the Article 6.4 SFM methodology disrupting it. But there might be specific cases where a Pacm carbon credit is desired — especially if the Australian government allows carbon projects to export their credits to other countries such as Singapore, Switzerland, Japan or Korea. As the Pacm evolves and the Article 6.4 SFM methodology reaches completion, we will assess these opportunities carefully to ensure complementarity between the two approaches.
This methodology proposal is adapted from the existing methods in Australia. Does it include the 2024 drafts that have been recently under consultation?
No, the proposed methodology draws from Australia's 2015 SFM emissions-avoidance method. With a proven track record under the ACCU Scheme, we've adapted its scientific principles to the technical and procedural framework of the Article 6.4 Pacm.
Would the results of that consultation and the final ACCU SFM methodology be considered for this Article 6.4 proposed methodology?
Maki Planet Systems operates within the ACCU Scheme and will continue to follow developments in Australia's SFM methodologies, including outcomes from the 2025 consultation. Where relevant, those developments will inform refinements to the Article 6.4 SFM method. But it's important to note that the ACCU Scheme and Pacm have distinct operational and regulatory requirements, so not every update will translate directly. Our goal is to ensure the Article 6.4 method upholds the same scientific rigour and integrity of Australian SFM practice, while fully complying with Pacm rules to enable near-term implementation.
Why doesn't the proposal include potential crediting from carbon sequestration in biomass, soils or harvested wood products?
The current proposal focuses solely on emissions avoidance, building on a method that has demonstrated credibility and success in Australia over the past decade.
Detecting and measuring permanent increases in carbon stocks in SFM projects is an evolving science, and the technology required is still maturing. In our Article 6.4 proposal, we chose to focus on emissions avoidance first to streamline the UNFCCC's approval process and ensure the methodology passes all the completeness checks and assessments efficiently.
The Article 6.4 framework allows for future revisions, so once this emissions-avoidance method is established and approved, we believe it will be possible to expand it to include carbon sequestration, informed by developments in the ACCU SFM methodology, additional research and emerging data. We anticipate that we will be able to add the carbon sequestration component in 1-2 years.
