About the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting System
The National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Act 2007 (the Act) was passed on 29 September 2007 establishing a mandatory reporting system for corporate greenhouse gas emissions and energy production and consumption. The first reporting period under the Act commences on 1 July 2008.
Key features of the Act are:
- Reporting of greenhouse gas emissions, energy consumption and production by large corporations.
- Public disclosure of corporate level greenhouse gas emissions and energy information.
- Consistent and comparable data available for decision making, in particular, the development of the Australian Emissions Trading Scheme.
For more information see the NGERS Overview Fact Sheet
Who needs to report?
Corporations will need to submit a report for the 2008-2009 financial year if they:
- emit 125 kilotonnes or more of greenhouse gases (measured in CO2 equivalent) or produce or use 500 terajoules or more of energy each year; or
- control facilities that emit 25 kilotonnes or more of greenhouse gases (measured in CO2 equivalent), or use or produce 100 terajoules or more of energy per year.
Corporations can use the NGER Calculator to help estimate whether they meet the thresholds.
Do I need to report now?
Corporations who may meet thresholds and who are not already collecting greenhouse gas emissions and energy data should begin collecting data and keeping records now. Most corporations likely to be affected by the legislation in its first reporting period (1 July 2008 - 30 June 2009) should have systems or processes in place for reporting under mandatory or voluntary government programs or to meet investor or shareholder demands.
Although data collection should begin now, corporations have until 31 August 2009 to apply to register and until 31 October 2009 to submit their reports under the Act.
Streamlining
One of the key aims of implementing the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting System is to standardise approaches for reporting corporate greenhouse gas emissions and energy to government. Standardisation will result in less cost to business through reducing the duplicative reports currently required by governments.
The data collected through this system will inform government policy nationally and at the State and Territory level. It will also help meet international reporting obligations.
The Australian Government recently announced proposed amendments to the Energy Efficiency Opportunities program to align its reporting requirements with the Act. These amendments are due to commence on 1 July 2008.
The Australian Government will continue to work with State and Territory governments to reduce reporting duplication across jurisdictions.
Links with the Emissions Trading Scheme
The Act will underpin the Australian Emissions Trading Scheme. Monitoring, reporting and auditing of businesses' greenhouse gas emissions data will be essential to maintain the environmental and financial integrity of a trading scheme.
More information on the Emissions Trading Scheme will be provided in Green Paper to be released in July 2008.
More information about the Emissions Trading Scheme
