The Australian Government has appointed Chief Scientist Cathy Foley AO PSM to lead an expert panel as part of its broader efforts to ensure the ongoing reporting for methane and other greenhouse gases is accurate and transparent.
The government has released its response to the recommendations of the 2023 review of the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting (NGER) scheme conducted by the independent Climate Change Authority (CCA). This review had a particular focus on the integrity of methane measurement following a written request by the Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen last year.
Related article: Climate-friendly cows bred to belch less methane
The CCA made 25 recommendations for the NGER scheme, including adjustments to data transparency, coverage, methane emissions measurement, reporting and verification and administration.
The government has agreed in full or agreed in principle to 24 of the CCA’s NGER Scheme recommendations and noted one recommendation.
The government has agreed to the CCA’s recommendation to establish an expert panel to advise the government on the potential role atmospheric measurement approaches could play in further enhancing Australia’s fossil methane emissions estimation.
The panel’s work will be informed by a scientific study to be commissioned by the government to test the capability of a range of atmospheric measurement approaches. The study’s design will draw on the findings from an ongoing integrated atmospheric measurement study commissioned by the government that is testing satellite, plane, vehicle and ground-based approaches in an operational open-cut mine setting.
“The Climate Change Authority has found Australia’s emissions reporting scheme is performing well and supporting Australia’s net zero transformation delivery,” Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen said.
“Methane is among the world’s most powerful greenhouse gases. It is essential that our measurement approaches continue to improve, based on sound science and expert analysis, as technologies provide additional opportunities for increased accuracy and integrity consistent with Paris Agreement emission reporting rules.
Related article: Why methane is turbocharging unnatural disasters
“By listening to the expert advice we are ensuring Australia remains a world leader in emission estimation, which is crucial to delivering emissions reductions as well as unlocking our potential as a renewable energy superpower.”
The NGER scheme is a national framework for reporting and disseminating company information about greenhouse gas emissions, energy production and consumption.
