Submission to DCCEEW on the draft National Environmental Standard for Environmental Offsets

The CEC welcomes the opportunity to provide a submission to the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) on the exposure draft of the National Environmental Standard (Environmental Offsets) 2026 (Offsets Standard).

We support the policy intent underpinning the Offsets Standard, including the objective of delivering transparent, scientifically robust, and environmentally effective offsets under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). The CEC has set out below a number of recommendations to improve its clarity, workability and alignment with the policy intent outlined in the accompanying policy paper.