Clean Energy Regulator
| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 2 April 2012 |
| Type | Non-Corporate Commonwealth entity and Statutory Authority |
| Jurisdiction | Commonwealth of Australia |
| Headquarters | Canberra |
| Annual budget | Clean Energy Regulator Budget information is located here |
| Ministers responsible |
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| Deputy Minister responsible |
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| Agency executive |
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| Parent department | Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water |
| Website | www |
The Clean Energy Regulator (CER) is an Australian non-corporate Commonwealth entity and statutory authority. It is an economic regulator accelerating carbon abatement for Australia, by administering Australian Government schemes to measure, manage, reduce and offset carbon emissions in Australia; and encourage land management practices that improve biodiversity in Australia. It was established on 2 April 2012 by the Clean Energy Regulator Act 2011 (Cth). It is part of the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water portfolio. It is headquartered in Canberra.
The CER is responsible for administering schemes to report on and manage greenhouse gas emissions, including monitoring and enforcing compliance. These include Australia's carbon offsets and credits schemes.
In the 2020s, the body faced criticisms that its carbon offsets were of poor integrity, and that it had not addressed governance problems such as conflicts of interest.
There have been three separate, independent reviews that have scrutinised the Clean Energy Regulator, particularly the ACCU Scheme. These reviews found it to be well administered and achieving genuine carbon abatement.
In 2022, the Independent Review of ACCUs (Chubb Review) found the Scheme settings were sound and recommended some sensible improvements.
The Climate Change Authority's 2023 statutory review found the Scheme is well designed, with robust governance, compliance and enforcement structures.
The 2024 Australian National Audit Office’s performance report of the Scheme provided Parliament with assurance of the effectiveness of CER’s regulatory activities in relation to ACCU issuing and compliance, and contract management activities related to ACCU purchases.
Since December 2023, Australian National University Associate Professor Cris Brack has been conducting 6-monthly independent reviews of human-induced regeneration (HIR) projects. These reviews provide additional assurance on the integrity and performance of HIR regeneration projects.