Soil

The Chubb Review into the framework surrounding ACCUs has produced 16 recommendations that will help to increase certainty in Australia’s carbon market.

A government-commissioned review into Australia’s carbon crediting framework has backed the scheme as ‘well-designed’ but calls for improvements to transparency and governance.

The firm’s natural capital vehicle has invested in a 400ha regenerative almond project in Spain, while its carbon strategy has backed the two million ha Restore Africa initiative.

The French firm said it will be ‘expanding its range of sustainable thematic products with the launch of nature-based solutions, likely to cover areas such as forestry, agriculture and carbon optimization.’

The Chubb Review is examining the integrity of Australian Carbon Credit Units after criticism from researchers at two universities earlier in 2022.

Chair Tim Samway tells Agri Investor the fund manager was ‘unable to continue’ in its previous form, with all options on the table for how to proceed.

With natural assets still waiting to be correctly valued, ‘a huge arbitrage opportunity will exist for the investors that are willing to lean in,’ StepStone says.

‘You can see the capital interest is here’ for investing in nature-based solutions to reduce carbon emissions, said head of agriculture and natural assets Liz O’Leary.

Xpansiv, which secured a $400m investment from Blackstone Energy Partners this year, will launch the platform in 2023.

KKR Global Impact director George Aitken said nature-based solutions are the ‘perfect assets’ for investors seeking arbitrage in combination with climate impact.