Archived News for Green Sector Professionals
Low Carbon Australia and Wagga Wagga City Council, NSW are to cooperate on energy efficiency in the first agreement of its kind for regional Australia in the second major agreement for the new agency.
The total project will cost $257,602 with LCA providing a direct loan for $209,725 (about 81 per cent of the project cost). Wagga Wagga council is paying for energy efficiency activities at its airport.
Research challenges conventional approaches to wind farm design
California Institute of Technology researchers have revisited some of the fundamental assumptions that have guided the wind industry for the past 30 years, and now believe that a new approach to wind farm design -- one that places wind turbines close together instead of far apart -- may provide significant efficiency gains.
Tasmanian Government releases emissions action plan
The Tasmanian Government has released Tasmania’s Action Plan to Reduce Emissions, which sets out the Government’s immediate priority plan for reducing greenhouse gas emissions following the Tasmanian Wedges Report, and advice from the Tasmanian Climate Action Council.
COAG Review of the National Water Commission to get underway
The National Water Commission will be reviewed to assess the effectiveness and continuing appropriateness of its roles in promoting water reform objectives and outcomes.
Carbon tax's affect on mining industry outlined
Research conducted by Wood Mackenzie shows that coal producers could have up $17 billion wiped off their asset value in the event of the introduction of the Federal Government’s planned carbon tax.
$66.5 million for solar research
The Federal Government has announced a $66.5 million grant under the Education Investment Fund to fund ‘world-leading’ research that will assist in the construction of one of the largest solar power plants in the world.
RMIT and Oxfam to produce climate change toolkit
RMIT University has announced a partnership with Oxfam Australia to produce a toolkit that will assist communities in the Asia-Pacific region adapt and respond to climate change.
Newcastle Institute for Energy and Resources launched
The Newcastle Institute for Energy and Resources (NIER) has been officially opened at the University of Newcastle.
$6.2 million for greener, lighter cars
The Federal Government has announced $6.2 million in grants through the Green Car Innovation Fund for the production of lighter cars that will reduce carbon emissions. The grants have been awarded to component manufacturers CFusion, Toyoda Gosei Australia, Composite Materials Engineering and Hirotec.
Queensland Government to expedite sustainable infrastructure projects
The Queensland Government has released its Green Door policy which will see the state government agencies work with local government and referral agencies to accelerate the development assessment of projects that that demonstrate exemplary sustainability performance.
Research links global warming with droughts and floods
Research into how variations in atmospheric and ocean variations contribute significantly to droughts and floods such as those recently experienced across south-east Australia and Queensland has been presented at a workshop hosted by the South Eastern Australian Climate Initiative (SEACI), a three-year, $9 million research program investigating the causes and impacts of climate variability and change throughout south-eastern Australia.
CSIRO to research climate influences
CSIRO has awarded a five-year research fellowship to Dr Wenju Cai to head up a new research team to conduct work into better understanding the impact of climate change on Australia, with particular focus on the extremes of flooding and droughts around the country.
Queensland launches largest solar array
The Queensland State Government has announced the opening of Australia’s largest flat panel photovoltaic (PV) solar array.
$11 million funding boost for regional NRM groups
Regional Natural Resource Management (NRM) groups will share $11 million of Queensland Government funding to continue their work improving and preserving the state’s environment.
CSIRO releases climate change scenarios
The CSIRO have published a joint research paper showing the results of research conducted into the effects of a +4ºC rise in global temperatures, finding that such an increase would lead to major reductions in annual rainfall in southern Australia, significant increases in evaporation across the country and reduced snow cover in alpine regions.
Tropical research centre opens
James Cook University has opened its Australian Tropic Sciences and Innovation Precinct in Townsville, which will conduct research into sustainable natural resource use in Australia’s tropics.
$38 million for Great Barrier Reef water quality improvements
The Federal Government has announced an additional $38 million in spending initiatives aimed at improving the quality of water entering the Great Barrier Reef lagoon.
Native forest biomass no longer renewable energy under carbon pricing
The Federal Government and the Greens have announced that the carbon price package prevents native forest woodchips being counted as a renewable energy fuel.
Climate Change Authority to oversee carbon pricing
A new Climate Change Authority (CCA) is to be established to provide expert advice on the Federal Government’s carbon pricing mechanism. It will be chaired by the former Reserve Bank Governor and former Treasury Secretary Bernie Fraser.
Biodiversity Fund and Carbon Farming Initiative announced in carbon price policy
A new Biodiversity Fund is to be established to support projects that deliver biodiversity and related environmental benefits under the Federal Government’s carbon price policy.