Boosting corporate accountability for emissions reduction

Coles and Woodside are among 11 large Australian businesses getting behind the Morrison Government’s new Corporate Emissions Reduction Transparency (CERT) report, which launches today.

Minister for Industry, Energy and Emissions Reduction Angus Taylor said business has an important role to play in reducing Australia’s carbon emissions and interest in voluntary action is growing.

“At the national level, Australia is a world leader in public reporting of emissions data, with no country having more timely or comprehensive reporting,” Minister Taylor said.

“Australia reports emissions data for every sector and every gas, every quarter.

“The CERT report will add a new level of transparency and accountability for Australia’s largest companies’ performance against their voluntary emissions reduction targets.

“It will provide a one-stop shop for the public to access net emissions, renewable electricity and offset data for Australia’s largest companies and understand their plans to decarbonise.

“Eligible companies are urged to take part in the pilot and show they will be accountable for the commitments they’ve made.”

Companies across a range of sectors, including natural gas, mining, property, finance and retail, have indicated that they will opt into the CERT report demonstrating their commitment to transparency and action.

Companies that opt-in will be able to report their net emissions in a clear and standardised way. This will support climate-related disclosures by Australian companies under international reporting standards such as the Taskforce for Climate-related Financial Disclosures, with progress verified against quality data held by the Clean Energy Regulator.

The report was co-designed with industry and has benefited from wide consultation.

Participation is voluntary and open to all National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting companies with total emissions of 50,000 tonnes or more, which is the publication threshold.

Companies interested in participating in the CERT report can find more information on the Clean Energy Regulator’s website:

https://www.cleanenergyregulator.gov.au/Infohub/consultation-hub/corporate-emissions-reduction-transparency-report

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