Archived News for Green Sector Professionals

La Trobe University, Melbourne is proud to present Responsible Futures, which follows the establishment of sustainability governance and management structures at the University.

Responsible Futures signals the next step of the journey, making our social, environmental and economic sustainability performance visible.

Queensland integrated solar – coal electricity facility to go ahead

The Federal Government has approved construction of the $104.7 million Kogan Creek Solar Boost project near Chinchilla in Queensland.

Government reveals carbon tax impact

About 50 high-emitting polluters would pay two-thirds of the government's carbon tax take, Climate Change Minister Greg Combet told the National Press Club as he hinted at a carbon price at the lower end of predictions.

Queensland Cleantech Industry Development Strategy released

The Queensland Government has launched its Cleantech Industry Development Strategy, setting out measures to support the environmental services, green building and materials, clean energy, resource recovery and recycling, sustainable transport, and water and wastewater management sectors.

Clean 21 Technology Innovation Network launched

A national Clean 21 Technology Innovation Network has been established by the Australian Government to help small and medium businesses reduce running costs and become more competitive and sustainable.

Research finds vehicle emissions testing "flawed"

A new environmental rating system is needed for vehicles because its current model is flawed and irrelevant in Australia, according to research by the University of South Australia.

Web guide to sustainability in higher education launched

A new web guide to sustainability in higher education has been launched.

National Wildlife Corridors Plan advisory group established

Environment Minister Tony Burke has announced members of an advisory group to inform the Federal Government’s development of a National Wildlife Corridors Plan, to be chaired by former Environment Minister Bob Debus.

Funding for new pallet technology

A new manufacturing process using organic fibres to make planks for shipping pallets, developed by Biofiba Limited, based at Gosford, NSW, has been awarded funding of up to $1.97 million from CSIRO’s Australian Growth Partnership (AGP).

International Clean Energy Ministerial forum meets

Member nations of the CEM, which was launched in July last year, collectively represent 80 per cent of the world's energy consumption and over 90 per cent of the world's clean energy investment.

Learning the hard way: Australia's policies to reduce emissions

The Grattan Institute has released a new report, entitled, Learning the hard way: Australian policies to reduce carbon emissions, which assesses the outcome of 300 programs to tackle climate change introduced by Australian governments since the Kyoto Protocol in 1997.

The report analyses four kinds of carbon abatement instruments: market mechanisms; rebates; energy efficiency standards; and grant tendering schemes.

Of all the measures analysed, market mechanisms, such as a carbon trading scheme, have delivered the greatest emissions reductions and have met targets ahead of time.

By contrast, $7 billion of grant-tendering schemes – upfront grants to companies for proposals to reduce emissions – have done very little to reduce greenhouse pollution.

Governments have also spent $5 billion on rebate programs to encourage the purchase of low-emission products. Again, the impact on emissions growth has been minimal.

A fourth kind of program – energy efficiency standards – can reduce emissions cheaply and effectively, but is limited in scope.

Based on experience, only an economy-wide carbon price (a type of market mechanism) can meet Australia’s 2020 target, endorsed by both main political parties, of reducing annual emissions by five per cent below 2000 levels.

The report was written by John Daley, CEO and Tristan Edis, Research Fellow at the Grattan Institute.

It can be downloaded at http://www.grattan.edu.au/pub_page/077_report_energy_learning_the_hard_way.html

National Climate Adaptation Champions announced

A Queensland farmer, a Tasmanian journalist and a council planner from mid-coast NSW have been named among National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility’s (NCCARF) first Climate Adaptation Champions.

Water expert appointed new SA Chief Scientist

A leader and recognised expert in the field of water management and quality, Adjunct Professor Don Bursill AM, has been appointed as South Australia’s new Chief Scientist.

Nominations open for 2011 WA Coastal Awards for Excellence

Nominations have opened for the 2011 Western Australian Coastal Awards for Excellence.

Australian Trucking Association commissions environmental research study

With debate continuing about the Government’s proposed carbon price, the Australian Trucking Association (ATA) has commissioned a major research study into the environmental credentials of the trucking industry.

The study is being prepared by The Centre for International Economics (TheCIE) and will provide evidence about how the industry has improved its environmental performance, before looking at possible future developments, including:

Renewable energy strategic directions report released

The Australian Centre for Renewable Energy (ACRE) has released its Strategic Directions report setting out priorities for renewable energy technology development and recommends initiatives to support its development, commercialisation and large scale deployment.

Australia elected to the Council of the International Renewable Energy Agency

Australia has the opportunity to play a leading role in international efforts to increase the deployment of renewable energy technologies and drive down their costs with its election to the Council of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).

Queensland climate change and coastal processes report released

Queensland can expect coastal erosion and permanent inundation of coastal land as a result of a predicted 0.8 metre sea level rise by 2100, according to a new scientific report released by the Queensland Climate Change Centre of Excellence.

Victorian Auditor-General releases renewable energy report

The Victorian Auditor-General’s Office has released its report into whether the development of renewable energy has been facilitated effectively by the Department of Premier and Cabinet (DPC), Department of Primary Industries (DPI), Department of Business and Innovation (DBI) and Sustainability Victoria (SV).