The Clean Energy Regulator today announces a new initiative – the Corporate Emissions Reduction Transparency report (CERT), which will make it easier for companies to show how they are reducing their net emissions while supporting the growth of a vibrant carbon market.
CERT will be underpinned by the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting (NGER) scheme and available for companies to demonstrate their action on climate change for the 2021 NGER reporting year.
“I am delighted to announce the launch of CERT. For the first-time companies will be able to show clearly how they are tracking towards their emissions reduction commitments, using the tried and tested NGER reporting framework”, the Chair of the Clean Energy Regulator, David Parker said.
Everyone will be able to have confidence that the CERT is robust, building as it does on the Clean Energy Regulator’s schemes to reduce emissions with renewable energy and deliver offsets with very high levels of integrity.
Importantly, CERT is designed to align with Climate Active – the government’s carbon neutrality scheme so corporate players can use CERT as a basis for ASX reporting or simply to demonstrate how seriously they take the emissions reduction challenge.
With CERT, we are putting in place another of the building blocks to support a growing carbon market and action by the private sector to play a key role in transforming our economy to be less emissions intensive.
Mr Parker said that the Clean Energy Regulator’s Quarterly Carbon Market Report shows that voluntary emissions reduction activity is gaining momentum, with corporations increasingly surrendering units and certificates to offset emissions.
“Corporate Emissions Reduction Transparency reporting provides increased transparency for supply chains, businesses, their shareholders and the public around these activities,” Mr Parker said.
The Clean Energy Regulator is seeking input on the proposed design and implementation through the Corporate Emissions Reduction Transparency report consultation paper and Corporate Emissions Reduction Transparency report draft guidelines.
“I encourage NGER reporting businesses, and other stakeholders, to provide their views and feedback on the Corporate Emissions Reduction Transparency report and draft guidelines to help us fine tune the arrangements,” Mr Parker said.
Feedback on CERT and its draft guidelines can be provided to the Clean Energy Regulator by 5 pm EDT, 19 March 2021 by emailing CER-RETandEnergySection@cleanenergyregulator.gov.au.
Visit Consultation open for the Corporate Emissions Reduction Transparency report to download the consultation paper and draft guidelines.
Media contact:cer-media@cleanenergyregulator.gov.au | (02) 6159 3448