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What we do

26 October 2022

Contents

Our role

The Clean Energy Regulator administers schemes legislated by the Australian Government for measuring, managing, reducing or offsetting Australia's carbon emissions.

Our role is determined by climate change law. We have administrative responsibilities for the:

 

As an economic regulator, the Clean Energy Regulator does not have any direct role or powers under our legislation to enforce work health and safety, environmental protection, or planning laws. However, we do share information with relevant regulators in appropriate circumstances.

Responsibility for meeting obligations to undertake a project in accordance with the law always rests with the business or individual concerned. If you are unsure of your legal responsibilities or believe that a business or person is not complying with the law, you should contact the relevant local authorities first.​

The Safe Work Australia website provides the details for work health and safety regulators which you can contact for information and advice. In the event of an emergency, please contact emergency services (000).

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Our responsibilities

The responsibilities of the Clean Energy Regulator include:

  • providing education and information on the schemes that we administer
  • monitoring, facilitating and enforcing compliance with each scheme
  • collecting, analysing, assessing, providing and publishing information and data
  • accrediting auditors for the schemes we administer, and
  • working with other law enforcement and regulatory bodies.

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Our schemes

National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting s​cheme

 

The National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting scheme provides a national framework for reporting and disseminating company information about greenhouse emissions, and energy production and consumption. This informs policy and program development nationally and reporting internationally

Corporations that meet a specified threshold must register under the framework and provide a report each year.

The National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting scheme data provides a rich and reliable data set that helps us to better understand greenhouse gas emissions, energy production and use. ​

Emissions Reduction Fund

 

The Emissions Reduction Fund will help to reduce Australia's emissions by providing an incentive for businesses, land owners, state and local governments, community organisations and individuals to adopt new practices and technologies which reduce emissions. The objective of the Emissions Reduction Fund is to help Australia to meet its emissions reduction target of five per cent below 2000 levels by 2020.

A number of activities are eligible under the scheme and individuals and organisations taking part can earn Australian carbon credit units. One Australian carbon credit unit is earned for each tonne of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2-e) stored or avoided by a project. Australian carbon credit units can be sold to generate income, either to the Government through a carbon abatement contract, or on the secondary market.​

Renewable Energy Target

 

The Renewable Energy Target encourages investment in new large-scale renewable power stations and the installation of new small-scale systems, such as solar photovoltaic and hot water systems in households. ​The Renewable Energy Target is designed to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases in the electricity sector and encourage the additional generation of electricity from sustainable and renewable sources.

The Renewable Energy Target has two core components: The Large-scale Renewable Energy Target and the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme. Together, these schemes create a financial incentive for investment in renewable energy.​

Australian National Registry of Emissions Units

The Australian National Registry of Emissions Units (ANREU) is a secure electronic system designed to accurately track the location and ownership of Australian carbon credit units (ACCUs) and emission units issued under the Kyoto Protocol.

The safeguard mechanism

The safeguard mechanism ensures that emissions reductions purchased through the Emissions Reduction Fund​ are not offset by significant increase​s in emissions above business-as-usual levels elsewhere in the economy. It does this by encouraging large businesses not to increase their emissions above historical levels.​

Other things we do

We track the ownership and location of units or certificates issued under these schemes, and under the Kyoto Protocol, through the Australian National Registry of Emissions Units (ANREU) and the REC Registry.

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