There’s a touch of irony in the fact the Australian government has invested $200m in the international Green Climate Fund, a United Nations fund to assist developing countries in adapting to and mitigating the effects of climate change.

There is, however, no equivalent investment fund by the government, or corporate Australia, towards developing sustainable economies on Aboriginal lands through one of those mitigation practices, namely carbon farming.

Investment in a sustainable Aboriginal carbon industry would directly impact climate change, Indigenous poverty and the management of traditional lands and waters. These are all key parts of meeting Australia’s commitment to the sustainable development goals (SDGs), specifically SDG13 (climate action), as well as SDG8 (decent work and economic growth), SDG11 (sustainable cities and communities), SDG14 (life below water) and SDG15 (life on land).

The government formally adopted the sustainable development goals in Paris last year. At the same time the UN called upon the international business community to play their part in achieving the goals, saying their success relies heavily on action and collaboration by all actors.

Paris is a long way from an Aboriginal community in Cape York undertaking carbon farming or central Australia where I live, and so is Sydney. But climate change is the great equaliser. All Australians experience the hotter summers, crazy storms and pungent smoke from out-of-control bushfires that float into the cities and towns. Climate change is like the polluted air all people, rich and poor, have to endure in Beijing and around the world. It impacts on us all.

One of the ways Indigenous people are taking action on climate change is through carbon farming. Carbon farming is simply managing vegetation to increase carbon storage or reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Early dry season savannah burning across northern Australia is the most popular form of carbon farming practised by traditional owners and Aboriginal ranger groups today, and it’s something that comes naturally to most of them. As a young ranger I recall the old blokes always having a smile on their face and a spring in their step when we went out burning in the national park. The young blokes loved it too. The work is enjoyable and satisfied their cultural obligations to country.

Planning the annual burning of country in central Australia. Photograph: Aboriginal Carbon Fund

Burning country not only maintains its health but makes a statement that country is being cared for. The “biggest estate on earth” didn’t happen by chance, rather, through good fire management practises, the land was kept in good order, a bit like housekeeping.

Carbon farming through early dry season savannah burning takes place on Aboriginal lands in the Kimberley, Top End and Cape York. The Aboriginal rangers, mostly traditional owners, light small fires in April, May, June and July. This prevents the large hot wildfires that typically ignite in August, October and November, releasing huge amounts of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. This early season burning always results in tired but happy rangers, a landscape that is well managed and in recent times, an economic return from selling carbon credits.

These carbon credits can then be sold to the government through the Emissions Reduction Fund auction and/or corporations that want to be carbon neutral in the voluntary market. The income goes back to the community, rangers and management of Aboriginal lands and waters.

The Aboriginal Carbon Fund is putting forward the creation of an industry development fund to support carbon farming, which would resemble the financial commitment already provided to the Green Climate Fund, Cooperative Research Centre for Developing Northern Australia or Research and Development Corporations. A modest investment fund of $10m would go a long way to supporting sustainable economies on Aboriginal lands.

By supporting the fund or purchasing these carbon credits, corporate Australia can make a direct investment in Aboriginal Australia and their lands for the first time. An Aboriginal-driven economy is being created, but like any new emerging industry it cannot stand alone, and it needs investment.

It must be questioned why such enormous amount of financial support for the intervention was found but none for an innovative industry on Aboriginal lands. Funds were found for placing an army of government business managers throughout communities in the Northern Territory, but no economy has been invested in.

Regardless of the reasons for the funding shortfall, climate change, Indigenous poverty and the sustainable management of Aboriginal lands are all connected and can all be addressed through carbon farming.



With the support of business, not just the government, Australia can address these issues and meet its commitments to the sustainable development goals by taking action on climate change.

Rowan Foley will be speaking on SDG15 (life on land) at the SDGA16 conference in Sydney on 29-3o November