Australia lagging well behind international best practice on the measurement and reporting of the high-risk greenhouse gas.
The Australian Climate Change Authority has slammed the country’s government for failing to monitor methane from coal mines accurately and some observers now believe emissions may be twice as bad as previously reported.
As the oil and gas sector pledged reductions in climate heating methane, the mining sector has moved up the agenda with wide recognition of the polluting nature of coal mining.
The federal government is being urged to act “immediately” to tighten the rules around management of methane emissions, after a major report found Australia lagging well behind international best practice on the measurement and reporting of the potent greenhouse gas.
In a new report on its independent review of the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting (NGER) Scheme, the Climate Change Authority finds that the accuracy of estimated fugitive methane emissions – mostly from coal and gas projects – “may be” distorted by outdated and “lower order” methods.
It follows a separate report from research group IEEFA, in July, which found a massive discrepancy between the methane emissions reported by gas and coal companies in Australia and the actual amount being emitted.
IEEFA found Australian coal miners were underestimating their methane emissions by 81 per cent and gas companies by 92 per cent – a discrepancy that could require a doubling in the rate of emission cuts by 2030 from big emitters.
The Climate Change Authority has recommended changes to improve the operation and transparency of key schemes for measuring and reporting greenhouse gas emissions and crediting emissions reductions.
In its latest reviews, the authority says the targeted changes are required to ensure the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting (NGER) Act and the Australian Carbon Credit Unit (ACCU) Scheme remain fit-for-purpose as Australia aims to meet its 2030 and 2050 emissions reduction targets.
“Both schemes were established over a decade ago and have served as important foundations of Australia’s strong climate policy infrastructure,” said the authority CEO’s Brad Archer.
“But with markets and governments reorienting to the goal of net zero emissions, it is timely to ask whether the schemes remain fit for purpose as we strive for ambitious and urgent cuts to emissions, and as international carbon markets are evolving – including in response to new rules under the Paris Agreement.”
The NGER Scheme, which is used to measure and report greenhouse gas emissions and energy production and use, continues to be integral to meeting Australia’s international energy and emissions reporting obligations, tracking progress on emissions reductions and informing climate change policy development.
However, the authority has found there is demand for more detailed emissions and energy data, the potential to improve the accuracy of some emissions estimates and the opportunity to broaden the coverage of the scheme
The National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Act 2007 (NGER Act) establishes the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting (NGER) scheme, the Safeguard Mechanism, and a framework for administration and compliance.
