Top NGERs mistakes and 5 ways to avoid them
17th September 2024
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The National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Scheme (NGERs) is the national framework for Australia’s largest emitters to report their carbon emissions. While the reporting requirements can be complex and confusing, most NGERs mistakes can be avoided with a few simple steps.
We’ve collated our five top tips to help avoid common NGERs mistakes and set your reporting up for success.
5 Ways to avoid the top NGERs mistakes
1. Start your NGERs Reporting early
The biggest mistake a reporter can make is waiting too late in the year to get started on reporting requirements. This can lead to errors and gaps in reporting, or late submission, all of which attract compliance penalties.
It is easy to fall into the trap of thinking there is plenty of time. Starting your reporting early will help ensure a smooth and stress-free reporting season and reduce your NGERs mistakes. Better still, do montly checks on data to ensure you are on track. However, if you’ve found yourself behind schedule, read on to tip 2!
2. Do not get caught in the weeds
NGERs mistakes commonly appear when reporters get lost in the details of data collection. Taking a step back to first understand the controlling corporation, corporate structure, and which facilities the controlling corporation has operational control over, will help keep you from falling down any data collection rabbit holes, or omitting emission sources.
Once you know what you need to report on, you can also consider taking advantage of the NGER Regulations to simplify reporting. Can you aggregate facilities? Can you report emissions as incidental emissions or a percentage estimate? Does the activity or emission source need to be reported at all?
Anthesis has helped many NGER clients streamline their reporting by taking advantage of the different reporting options so that they can focus on their core business.
3. Sense check your NGERs data
With a lot of data management systems available to help reporters streamline data collection and analysis, it can be tempting to rely on those systems alone. Implementing some quick sense checks will reinforce the accuracy and reliability of the emissions and energy report and help identify any potential errors in the system.
Some checks we recommend include comparing against previous years’ emissions, reviewing emissions intensity trends and undertaking a data variability analysis. If you are in need of a NGERs health check, reach out to us.
4. Remember to document
Another common NGERs mistake and a significant risk, is not having a clear process to complete an NGERs report.
Documenting and updating the reporting process each year helps ensure corporate knowledge is captured, productivity and efficiency is secured and that the report is accurate, transparent, comparable, and complete.
5. Not leveraging the right software
The NGERs reporting process is data-intensive, and even minor mistakes can jeopardise compliance. Leveraging software like RouteZero minimises common errors and enhances efficiency, ensuring accurate and streamlined reporting. RouteZero not only reduces the risk of inaccuracies but also saves time, streamlining the upload process allowing organisations and their teams to focus on higher-value tasks, and to feel certainty about the accuracy of the submission.
6. Turn your NGERS reporting data into opportunity
Compliance reporting is largely associated with risk, so once the NGER report is submitted, the risk is managed, and the data is forgotten until next year’s reporting season. The corporations that make the most out of their NGER reporting are those that also identify the opportunities revealed by the emissions and energy reports.
NGERs data can uncover energy reduction and cost savings potential, high-emissions facilities, and exposure to climate risk; but might also provide an opportunity for corporates to develop a strategy for future emissions reduction or celebrate emissions reduction already achieved. The Corporate Emissions Reduction Transparency (CERT) Report is the perfect opportunity for corporations making the most of their data to publicly celebrate their emission reduction achievements to date. Read the latest CERT reports from the government.
Anthesis offers value-add services to our NGER clients, delivering insights such as emissions reduction recommendations, renewable energy opportunities, science-based target and carbon neutral business case assessments, plus compliance to the Australian Sustainability Reporting Standards.
NGER Review Updates
And lastly, make sure you stay ahead of what is changing from the latest NGER review. Recent changes have been announced from the 5 yearly review cycle and new amendments mean some major changes for reproters. To get the full rundown review the 5 Key Outcomes and What the Changes Mean for Reporters.
Original article published August 2023, updated September 2024.
NGER advisory
Contact us if you need assistance with your NGER or Safeguard Mechanism compliance, and quality assurance support, or to discuss the opportunities that arise from understanding your emissions in terms of savings and future emissions reductions.