Archived News for Green Sector Professionals
Federal Parliamentary Secretary for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, Mark Dreyfus, has introduced the Greenhouse and Energy Minimum Standards (GEMS) legislation to Parliament following agreement between the Gillard Government, the New Zealand Government and states and territories.
The GEMS legislation will regulate energy efficiency and labelling standards for appliances and other products. It will also give effect to commitments under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to adopt national policies and measures to mitigate climate change and limit Australia’s anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases, and to promote the development and application of technologies and practices that control anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases.
The Bill establishes a national framework for regulating the energy efficiency of products supplied or used within Australia and permits the Australian Government to set mandatory minimum efficiency requirements for products, to drive greater energy efficiency for regulated products. The Bill also allows the Australian Government to set nationally-consistent labelling requirements, to increase Australians’ awareness of options to improve energy efficiency and reduce energy consumption, energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions. The national framework will replace seven state and territory legislative frameworks, harmonising Australia’s equipment energy efficiency regulations.
AFGC hits out at container deposit scheme
The Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC) has hit out at the planned introduction of a national drink container deposit scheme (CDS), labelling it as another tax that Australian families will have to bear.
Queensland announces green tape blitz
The Queensland Government has announced plans to significantly cut the state’s green tape, saying that the surrounding bureaucracy has ‘suffocated small business and cost taxpayers millions of dollars.”
Victoria opens biodiesel facility
The Victorian Government has officially opened the state’s new $4.8 million biodiesel at Shell’s Newport Terminal.
Rann to head Board of Low Carbon Australia
Former South Australian Premier, Mike Rann, has been appointed as Chair of the Board of Lower Carbon Australia.
Tasmania releases biosecurity review
The Tasmanian Government has released a review into the state’s biosecurity strategy in a bid to further strengthen existing quarantine efforts.
Government announces Ningaloo committee
The Federal Government has announced it will establish a community advisory committee to assist in protecting the Ningaloo reef.
MDBA releases updated draft plan
The Murray-Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) has released changes to its Basin Plan to ministers as part of the Authority’s process of developing the finalised plan.
WWF hits out at New Zealand
The World Wide fond for Nature (WWF) has hit out at the New Zealand Government, saying it is continuing 20 years of environmental neglect and broken promises.
Clean Technology Investment expert committee appointed
The Minister Assisting for Industry and Innovation, Senator Kate Lundy, has announced the appointment of an independent expert committee to help Innovation Australia deliver the $1 billion Clean Technology Investment programs.
IEA praises Energy Efficiency Program
The International Energy Agency (IEA) has praised the Federal Government’s Energy Efficiency Opportunities (EEIO Program, describing it as a successful example of how government policy can work with industry to reduce energy use.
Impact of carbon price on landfill emissions clarified
The Parliamentary Secretary for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, Mark Dreyfus, has released a statement on how the carbon price will apply to pollution from local landfill sites and the potential impact this might have on rates for local communities.
Plantation log growth offsets native log decline
The volume of logs harvested in Australia increased by 3.6 per cent in 2010–11, the first increase in three years, taking the total value of logs harvested in 2010-11 to over $1.8 billion.
Queensland pulls support for Cloncurry Solar Farm
The Queensland Government has announced it has withdrawn financial support for the Cloncurry Solar Farm as part of the state’s ongoing cost cutting.
New Indigenous Protected Area formed
The Federal Government has officiated the formation of the new Yanyuwa Indigenous Protected Area in the Gulf of Carpentaria.
Victoria to end Yarra waste discharge
The Victorian Government has announced an agreement that will stop the last discharge of industrial wastewater into the Yarra River.
WA EPA approves state's first uranium mine
The Western Australian Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced it has granted approval to Toro Energy to construct the state’s first uranium mine, after the proposal was ‘meticulously examined by the board.’
Yarwun declared significant
The Queensland Coordinator-General has declared the $2.2 billion coal terminal at Yarwun in the Port of Gladstone a ‘significant project’, meaning the project will now undergo an environmental assessment.
Victoria pushes for less environmental flows
The Victorian Government has released modelling that it says shows that the health of the Murray River can be secured using significantly less water for environmental flow.
Air pollution may be driving expansion of tropics
Black carbon aerosols and ozone, both man-made pollutants emitted predominantly in the Northern Hemisphere’s low- to mid-latitudes, are most likely pushing the boundary of the tropics further poleward in that hemisphere, new research has shown.
Carbon farming projects funded
Research and demonstration grants totalling $72.5 million have been awarded as part of the first round of the Federal Government’s Filling the Research Gap and Action on the Ground programs that are part of the $429 million Carbon Farming Futures program.