Australia’s big polluters required to offset just 1.2% of greenhouse gas emissions

Analysis shows state and federal governments not exercising their powers to require companies to increase offsets

Only 1.2% of the greenhouse gas emissions released by Australia's top 65 emitting companies had to be offset under federal and state laws last financial year, an analysis has found.

The analysis by Footprint, a sustainability news site, examined both regulatory constraints imposed on businesses with emissions greater than 1m tonnes and any voluntary offsetting commitments they made.