Give our streets the green light: MAV

The Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) has called on State and Federal Governments to help local councils replace old street lighting with new energy-efficient technology. The

8 June, 2010

SA should prepare for ‘weed change’

  Image: CSIRO. As the climate continues to warm, South Australia will face a ‘weed change’, the CSIRO has found. The report, Climate Change and Invasive Plants in South Australia, used climate projections to 2080 to examine changes in the distribution and abundance of weeds across the state. The report included detailed profiles for 13 weed […]

18 May, 2010

Nominations closing for World Environment Day Awards

Local councils and schools working to protect and restore the environment have been invited to enter in a national awards program. Nominations are soon closing for the United Nations Association of Australia World Environment Day Awards 2010. The awards program recognises businesses, councils, individuals and community organisations, schools and the media working in the areas […]

11 May, 2010

Productivity Commission reports on water buybacks

The Productivity Commission has raised concerns about aspects of the design and sequencing of the Australian Government’s Murray-Darling Basin plan, noting problems in the commencement of buybacks before ratification of the plan. The Commission found that acquiring entitlements directly in active markets is likely to be more efficient that the current tender approach. Commissioner Neil Byron […]

1 April, 2010

States are the ‘laboratory’ for climate change policy

By Angela Dorizas State governments should be the laboratory for climate change policies, leading climatologist Professor James Hansen has said. In an interview with Government News, Professor Hansen, head of the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies and adjunct professor at Columbia University in New York, said state governments were well placed to test climate […]

23 March, 2010

Gene chip unlocks secrets of coastal ecosystems

Dr Anthony Chariton collects sediment samples for biodiversity analysis using the new gene chip. Image: CSIRO. The CSIRO has announced trials of a new technique to determine the impacts of water quality and climate change on the health and biodiversity of Australia’s coastal ecosystems. Launched on World Water Day, the technique is based on a […]

22 March, 2010

Grandfather of global warming promotes tax and dividend [Video]

Professor James Hansen: After Copenhagen – looking for real solutions Source: Sydney Ideas By Angela Dorizas A carbon tax and dividend scheme is the only viable option for reducing greenhouse gases to a safe level, according to James Hansen, head of the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies and adjunct professor at Columbia University in […]

15 March, 2010

Mission unaccomplished: the drive for sustainability

Councils are stuck at how to measure and assess sustainability, which is why clear examples of what is achievable are important, writes Professor Michael Paddon, Stefanie Pillora and Jade Herriman. It is almost 20 years since the adoption of Local Agenda 21 at the Rio Earth summit, which many people identify as the international impetus […]

2 March, 2010

Australian workforce short on green skills

By Angela Dorizas Green skills training and monitoring is in short supply across the Australian workforce, a new survey has found. The Green Steps Australian Workplaces Survey survey was completed online by 79 organisations in government, not-profit and private sectors, which together employed more than 50,000 people between September and October 2009. It found that […]

28 January, 2010

Calls for organic waste policy

By Angela Dorizas The Federal Government needs to set a national target on organic waste recovery and rapidly increase greenhouse gas capture on landfill sites, according to the Waste Management Association of Australia (WMAA). Speaking at the Zero Waste Summit in Sydney yesterday, WMAA NSW president, Mike Ritchie, urged governments to develop policies that would […]

1 December, 2009

Hybrid trucks on show at Parliament House

By Paul Matthei As part of a commitment to raising awareness among public servants and politicians of the various ‘green’ initiatives being offered by truck and related component manufacturers, the Truck Industry Council (TIC) recently hosted a seminar on hybrid technologies for today’s trucks at Parliament House in Canberra.   Presentations were given by local […]

20 November, 2009

Regional Victoria moves towards zero waste

By Angela Dorizas Communities in regional Victoria will move towards zero waste through a $2.1 million State Government program. Announced by Environment and Climate Change Minister Gavin Jennings yesterday, the Regional Towards Zero Waste Support Program forms part of the State Government’s broader strategy to minimise waste to landfill. Mr Jennings said the program will […]

12 November, 2009

Traveston Dam rejected

Local residents have welcomed the Federal Government’s proposed decision to reject the Traveston Dam project on the Mary River. Image: Arkin Mackay/www.stoppress.com.au By Angela Dorizas Federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett has announced a proposed decision to reject Queensland’s Traveston Dam project because the impacts on the environment would be too great. Mr Garrett said the project could […]

11 November, 2009

SA in prime position to launch e-waste recycling scheme

By Angela Dorizas South Australia is ready to kick-start the national e-waste recycling scheme agreed to by environment ministers last week, according to SA Environment and Conservation Minister Jay Weatherill. Mr Weatherill said the state’s container deposit scheme, which had been in operation for 30 years, provided the necessary infrastructure for e-waste collection and recycling.  […]

9 November, 2009