The Australian Government has released the Greenhouse and Energy Reporting System, Regulations Policy Paper on mandatory corporate reporting of energy and greenhouse gas emissions data.

The policy paper outlines proposed approaches to detailed reporting requirements for a national framework for corporations to report greenhouse gas emissions and actions to reduce emissions, including the scope of data subject to mandatory reporting, detailed definitions of terms such as facilities and emissions, registration and deregistration information, as well as reporting requirements for greenhouse gas offsets, and actions to reduce or remove emissions.

Eligible Australian corporations will be required to report on their emissions and energy for the 2008-09 financial year, with the first reports submitted by 31 October 2009.

Interested individuals and organisations are asked to submit their views on the proposals presented in the policy paper by 27 February 2008.