Developing the National Reporting System
The National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Act 2007 (the Act) was passed in September 2007 establishing a mandatory corporate reporting system for greenhouse gas emissions, energy consumption and production.
The Act's design is consistent with the preferred option outlined in the Regulation Impact Statement which was developed under the Council of Australian Governments during 2006. At its meeting On 13 April 2007 COAG agreed to establish a mandatory national greenhouse and energy reporting system to meet the current and prospective needs of government, business and the public.
More about the Council of Australian Governments
The mandatory system has been developed to meet a number of objectives, including to:
- provide robust data to underpin the environmental and financial integrity of Australia's national emissions trading scheme;
- reduce the number of greenhouse and energy reports required across State, Territory and Australian Government programs; and
- provide corporate level information to the public on greenhouse and energy performance of Australian corporations.
What consultation has been undertaken?
The Government has consulted extensively with business, governments and the public to ensure the legislation is practical, workable and meets government, business and other data users' needs. The Government will continue to work with all stakeholders to ensure the legislation is implemented efficiently and effectively.
Consultation during 2008
Regulations Policy Paper - February 2008; and
Technical Responses to Stakeholder Feedback on the Regulations Policy Paper - June 2008
As part of the consultation process for the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting System, the Department of Climate Change released for public comment the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting System, Regulations Policy Paper.
In the Policy Paper released in February 2008, feedback was requested from interested parties on approaches to the final regulations. In response, over 100 submissions were received from interested organisations and individuals.
- Regulations Policy Paper
- Policy Paoer Information Session - presentation
- Regulations Policy Paper Public Submissions
The Technical Responses to feedback on the Regulations Policy Paper is intended to inform stakeholders of proposed changes to policy for the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Regulations, following stakeholder feedback. It should be read in conjunction with the policy paper.
Technical Guidelines Discussion Paper - January 2008
As part of the consultation process for the detailed design of the system, the Department of Climate Change released for public comment the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting System, Technical Guidelines for the Estimation of Greenhouse Emissions and Energy at Facility-Level Discussion Paper .
In the Discussion Paper released in January 2008, feedback was sought from stakeholders on the proposed estimation methodologies for greenhouse gas emission and energy consumption and production at the facility level. In response, over 70 submissions were received from interested organisations and individuals.
- Technical Guidelines for the Estimation of Greenhouse Emissions and Energy at the Facility-Level
(nger-techguidelines-overview.pdf - 558KB) - Technical Guidelines for the Estimation of Greenhouse Emissions and Energy at the Facility-Level
(nger-techguidelines.pdf - 1214KB) - Technical Guidelines Public Submissions
Previous consultation
Following are previous consultation papers on the development of the system:
October 2007
- Regulations Discussion Paper - National Greenhouse and
Energy Reporting System
The paper sought to further inform stakeholders, and gather feedback on approaches to the final regulations. - Submissions: Submissions closed in November 2007 and can be accessed here
- Presentation: The presentation from the information session on the discussion paper can be accessed here
October 2006
- Draft Regulation Impact Statement - A national system for streamlined
greenhouse and energy reporting by business
A draft Regulation Impact Statement (RIS) was released in October 2006 to facilitate input by stakeholders, and inform the report to the Council of Australian Governments in December 2006. - Submissions closed 30 October 2006 and are not available publicly.
April 2006
- Options Paper - A Streamlined National Reporting Framework for Greenhouse and Energy Data - Reducing the Burden - (reporting.pdf - 1963 KB)
- The options paper was prepared to seek stakeholders' views to inform recommendations that were made to Australian, state and territory governments in mid-2006 on a national reporting framework for greenhouse gas emissions and energy.
- The paper was developed by a joint working group under the Environment Protection and Heritage Council and the Ministerial Council of Energy.
- Submissions closed 2 May 2006 and are not available publicly.
