Project-Level Greenhouse Gas Emissions Modelling for Australian Environmental Approvals

Project-level GHG emissions modelling is the predictive quantification of a proposed project’s greenhouse gas emissions across Scope 1, 2 and 3 before construction begins. It is required by Australian environmental planning authorities as part of Environmental Impact Statements (EIS), Environmental Authority (EA) applications, and development assessments to demonstrate that a project’s emissions profile aligns with jurisdictional net zero targets and the mitigation hierarchy has been applied.

All eight Australian states and territories now require some form of GHG emissions assessment for major project approvals, in addition to the Commonwealth under the EPBC Act (and the Environment Protection Reform Act 2025). Requirements vary significantly: Western Australia mandates linear net zero trajectories for projects exceeding 100,000 tCO₂-e, New South Wales applies an eight-step methodology above 25,000 tCO₂-e, Queensland requires formal GHG Abatement Plans, Victoria has no minimum threshold under its General Environmental Duty, and the ACT applies the lowest threshold nationally at just 250 tCO₂-e per year.

A GHG Abatement Plan is a formal document required by several Australian jurisdictions — notably Queensland and New South Wales — that applies the mitigation hierarchy (avoid, reduce, substitute, offset) to demonstrate how a project will minimise its greenhouse gas emissions over its operational life. It must include quantified Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions inventories, best-available-technology justification, and alignment with jurisdictional net zero targets. In Queensland, it is required for any Environmental Authority applicant classified as a medium-to-high emitter (25,000+ tCO₂-e per year).

No. ARTEH specialises in forward estimation and predictive emissions modelling for the pre-approval phase of project development. We do not provide retrospective NGER compliance reporting or Safeguard Mechanism baseline administration for operational facilities. However, our modelling uses NGER Act methodologies to ensure that the emissions inventory we produce for your approval submission aligns seamlessly with future NGER reporting obligations. For corporate-level climate disclosure and AASB S2 reporting, see the ARTEH Platform.

ARTEH models all three greenhouse gas emission scopes as defined by the GHG Protocol: Scope 1 (direct emissions from owned or controlled sources), Scope 2 (indirect emissions from purchased electricity, heat or steam), and Scope 3 (value-chain emissions including upstream supply chain and downstream product use). All calculations use NGER Act methodologies and are aligned to ISO 14064 to ensure regulatory acceptance and future compliance readiness.