NGER- National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting

The National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Act 2007 was passed in September 2007 establishing a mandatory corporate reporting system for greenhouse gas emissions, energy consumption and production.

The legislation is important for governments, business, and the Australian community by:

• Providing robust data to underpin the environmental and financial integrity of Australia’s national emissions trading scheme
• Reducing the number of greenhouse and energy reports required across State, Territory and Australian Government programs
• Providing corporate level information to the public on greenhouse and energy performance of Australian corporations for the first time.

Do I need to report now?

Corporations who might meet thresholds and aren’t already collecting greenhouse gas emissions and energy data should begin collating that information and keeping records from 1 July 2008. Most corporations likely to be affected by the legislation 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 October 2009 to submit their report under the Act.

Who needs to report?

From 1 July 2008, corporations will be required to register and report for the 2008-2009 financial year if:

• They control a facility that emits 25 kilotonnes or more of greenhouse gases (CO2 equivalent), or produce or consume 100 terajoules or more of energy; or
• Their corporate group emits 125 kilotonnes or more greenhouse gases (CO2 equivalent), or produces or consume 500 terajoules or more of energy.
• Lower thresholds for corporate groups will be phased in by 2010-11. The final thresholds will be 50 kilotonnes of greenhouse gases (CO2 equivalent) or 200 terajoules of energy.

An online calculator is available to help corporations assess if they are likely to meet thresholds.

What is the coverage?

By the 2010-11 reporting period the legislation is expected to cover around 700 medium and large corporations. The reporting system will improve data coverage to over 70% of greenhouse gas emissions in the covered sectors. Greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture, land use, land use change and forestry activities will not be included until methodologies for reporting at the facility and corporation level are sufficiently developed.

Taken from www.climatechange.gov.au/reporting/publications/pubs/ngers-presentation.pdf

Notes:

• TJ = terajoule (1012 joules) of energy consumed or produced
• kt = kilotonne (106 kilograms) CO2-e equivalent of greenhouse gases emitted

Conversion factors:

• Energy
  • 1 terajoule = 1000 gigajoules
  • 1 gigajoule = 1000 megajoules
  • 1 megajoule = 1000 kilojoules
  • 1 kilojoule = 1000 joules
• CO2-e emissions
  • 1 kilotonne = 1000 tonnes
  • 1 tonne = 1000 kilograms

More Information

• Visit www.climatechange.gov.au/reporting,
• Email: reporting@climatechange.gov.au
• or call 1800 081 831.

For information on emissions trading visit the Department of Climate Change website.