We are an economic regulator accelerating carbon abatement for Australia. We do this by administering Australian Government schemes to measure, manage, reduce and offset carbon emissions and promote biodiversity in Australia.
Our purpose
Our purpose is to accelerate carbon abatement for Australia. We do this with integrity, transparency and a commitment to best practice.
Our role
The CER is a non‑corporate Commonwealth entity and statutory agency established under the Clean Energy Regulator Act 2011. We are an economic regulator responsible for administering Australian Government schemes that measure, manage and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, promote renewable energy generation, and support the development of emerging environmental markets.
Through the administration of market‑based mechanisms, we contribute to the delivery of Australian Government climate and energy objectives, including emissions reduction targets and the transition to net zero. Our role includes administering schemes, monitoring and enforcing compliance, accrediting auditors, and collecting, analysing and publishing trusted data to support transparency and informed participation in markets.
We help steward Australia’s carbon, renewable energy and emerging nature markets by supporting their integrity, transparency and effective operation. By maintaining confidence in market‑based solutions and providing credible data, insights and regulatory assurance, we enable investment and participation that delivers enduring emissions reduction, renewable energy and environmental outcomes for Australia.
Governance
Effective and accountable decision‑making is supported by a robust governance framework that ensures we administer our schemes and manage public resources in accordance with the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013 (PGPA Act) and stakeholder expectations.
The Chair, as Accountable Authority, is supported by a clear governance structure that defines roles, responsibilities and decision‑making authorities across the agency. The Regulator Board provides independent oversight and strategic direction for the administration of the agency’s statutory functions.
Our governance arrangements are underpinned by fit‑for‑purpose policies, delegations and business planning processes, supported by sound assurance, risk management and internal control frameworks. Independent advice and assurance are provided through the Audit Committee, with internal audit activity aligned to the agency’s strategic risks and priorities.
We regularly review and strengthen our governance arrangements to ensure they remain contemporary, proportionate and aligned with government policy, supporting transparency, accountability and sustained organisational performance.
Schemes
The schemes we administer form an integrated framework to accelerate carbon abatement, support renewable energy generation and energy storage and drive positive economic, social and environmental outcomes for Australia. Through established emissions and energy markets and the introduction of new mechanisms to protect nature, these schemes encourage emissions reduction, underpin transparency and confidence in market-based solutions, and support sustained investment in activities that deliver new industries and enduring climate and biodiversity benefits.
The Australian Carbon Credit Unit Scheme (ACCU Scheme), established under the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) Act 2011, incentivises emissions reduction and carbon sequestration projects across a range of sectors. Participants may earn Australian carbon credit units (ACCUs), which can be traded in secondary markets or used by government and businesses to meet compliance or voluntary emissions reduction obligations.
The National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Scheme (NGER), established under the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Act 2007, provides a single national framework for the reporting and dissemination of information on greenhouse gas emissions, energy production and energy consumption by Australia’s largest corporations and facilities.
The Safeguard Mechanism applies to facilities with covered emissions exceeding 100,000 tonnes in a year. It requires facilities to keep their net emissions below a declining baseline.The Renewable Energy Target (RET), established under the Renewable Energy (Electricity) Act 2000, comprises two certificate schemes that encourage additional electricity generation from renewable sources and battery storage through the CHBP. The RET supports emissions reduction in the electricity sector by creating a market for renewable energy certificates and promoting investment in ecologically sustainable renewable technologies.
The Nature Repair Market, established under the Nature Repair Act 2023, is a voluntary market framework designed to encourage investment in projects that protect, manage and restore nature. It enables the CER to issue tradeable biodiversity certificates to landholders, supporting improved biodiversity outcomes through market based mechanisms.
The Guarantee of Origin Scheme (GO), established under the Future Made in Australia (Guarantee of Origin) Act 2024, tracks and verifies emissions intensity of products such as hydrogen and renewable electricity produced in Australia. The scheme will progressively expand to cover additional products, supporting the development of low emissions industries and transparent international trade.
Registries
We manage secure and authoritative registries that underpin the administration and integrity of the schemes we regulate. These registries provide a trusted record of the creation, holding, transfer and surrender of units and certificates, supporting transparent, efficient and well functioning markets.
- Unit and Certificate Registry – A modern, secure and unified registry that enables participants to hold, transfer and manage multiple unit and certificate types. The registry incorporates the Australian National Registry of Emissions Units (ANREU), established under the Australian National Registry of Emissions Units Act 2011, and provides a scalable foundation for administering existing and emerging schemes, with functionality progressively being expanded to onboard additional units and certificates as required.
- Renewable Energy Certificate (REC) Registry – A secure registry that supports the creation, registration, transfer and surrender of renewable energy certificates, underpinning the effective administration and integrity of the RET.