Tuesday, 9 March 2010

In brief: NSW councils want out of waste levy (Tuesday, 9 March 2010) NSW councils want out of waste levy WA upgrades bus fleet Wild about recycling Oil production lowest in 40 years Full Story...

Monday, 8 March 2010

Green rating tools to link consistency and compatibility (Monday, 8 March 2010) A new agreement between Australia’s two leading environmental ratings tools, announced at Green Cities 2010, will be used to link the design and performance of buildings to develop new opportunities to reduce the environmental impacts that exist at different stages of a building's life cycle. Full Story... The latest Smart Approved WaterMark (Monday, 8 March 2010) A diverse array of products ranging from a slow release watering system, pool covers that avoid evaporation and a soil conditioner that allows soils to retain more water are among the latest list of 16 products to make the cut and be awarded the Smart Approved WaterMark. Full Story...   Local focus remains key to climate action (Monday, 8 March 2010) There is no doubt the Federal Government’s approach to its climate change policies and roll out of programs has been seriously flawed. There is also no doubt that as a consequence the electorate is cooling to the need for action on climate change, the political capital built up at the community level over recent years dissipating as the need for action becomes even more desperate. By ICLEI’s Martin Brennan. Full Story... $2.2 trillion global carbon market fades (Monday, 8 March 2010) Recent estimates suggest the global carbon market could be worth about US$2 trillion ($2.2 trillion) by the end of this decade, although a survey by market analyst Point Carbon shows that investors are becoming less convinced such as market can be established if uncertainty over global climate policy persists. Full Story... In brief: EPA Vic gets outcome focused (Monday, 8 March 2010) EPA Vic gets outcome focused Sweet success of ethanol Vic infrastructure under the pump New vital signs for the planet Full Story...

Friday, 5 March 2010

CFOs to tool up for carbon constraints (Friday, 5 March 2010) Chief Financial Officers (CFOs) are set to benefit from a report by the Institute of Chartered Accountants (ICA) and PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) which outlines 20 issues around the business implications of a carbon price signal. With carbon costs emerging as “as one of the most important political and business issues facing Australia today,” the authors point out senior management within “smart businesses” are already looking for growth opportunities. Full Story... CleanTech: Waves of clean energy headed for the grid (Friday, 5 March 2010) Australian ocean energy developer BioPower Systems has secured land access, onshore development rights and project IP for a commercial scale wave energy site located near the town of Port Fairy, Victoria. It believes the agreement takes it one step closer to developing cost-effective systems that convert the energy of ocean waves and tidal movement into grid-connected electricity. Full Story... ABARE’s outlook on CPRS (Friday, 5 March 2010) Allowing agricultural offsets under Australia’s proposed Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS) would present both opportunities and challenges for Australian farmers, but delegates at the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics (ABARE) Outlook Conference in Canberra were told on Wednesday that the net effect for farmers is likely to be positive. Full Story... Natural resource group charts population pressure in Qld (Friday, 5 March 2010) The group representing Queensland’s 14 regional natural resource management (NRM) bodies has called for stronger measures to protect the state’s environment from the effects of a population boom and the associated increase in energy and food requirements. The not-for-profit group wants policy makers to adopt stringent measures to protect the state’s natural resources, and is also looking to influence industry into voluntary agreements. Full Story...   Left behind as the debate rolls on (Friday, 5 March 2010) At an event in Melbourne last night I had to wonder why a climate scientist was asked to debate nuclear power. Two “nuclear industry” experts were also talking. On the other side of the debate were “public policy” specialists arguing against nuclear power. What was striking was the tendency to expect people to comment outside their area of expertise. And where was the renewable energy industry, questions Francis Grey? Full Story...

Thursday, 4 March 2010

In brief: SME trade going to China (Thursday, 4 March 2010) SME trade going to China New green waste bins for Brisbane Vic EPA sets public conference date Australia too nice to litter Full Story...

Wednesday, 3 March 2010

Gov responds to senate committee waste report (Wednesday, 3 March 2010) The Australian Government has responded to the Senate Committee’s waste management inquiry report, which was tabled back in September 2008. One big developments during the 18-months it took to respond to the report has provided the government a convenient answer to most recommendations – the National Waste Policy will deal with it. The other fallback response is that waste is primarily the responsibility of individual state and territory governments. Full Story... Extra funding to boost water trade group (Wednesday, 3 March 2010) A global brand to identify the Australian water industry is to be developed as part of a $100,000 project to boost exports from the sector. The industry’s specialist export development group, Water Australia, last month launched the project to help build national water management capacity. Full Story... The nuclear debate echoes again (Wednesday, 3 March 2010) What do a recently retired Victorian Labor heavyweight, a former Australian of the Year, a newly elected Opposition leader and an NT Chief Minister all have in common? They all have a part to play in the Australian nuclear debate, which is heating up again after the Rudd Government tabled the National Radioactive Waste Management Bill 2010. Full Story... Australian mission to secure clean carbon (Wednesday, 3 March 2010) An Austrade-led contingent of local carbon experts are on a Carbon Mission to explore commercial opportunities in Malaysia and India. Seventeen Australian firms, involved in various supply chain aspects of developing “carbon projects,” are participating in the week-long mission, which is looking at projects partially funded by carbon rights including the UN-backed clean development mechanism (CDM). Full Story...

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