ACF welcomes Government investment in nature

Australian Conservation Foundation

The Federal Government’s 2009-10 Caring for Our Country business plan, released on Friday, represents an improvement in the way governments invest in Australia’s natural capital, according to the Australian Conservation Foundation. However, the ACF’s Rural Landscapes Campaigner, Corey Watts, has pointed out that some key gaps in the approach to protect these critical ecosystems and resources remain.

posted by seamas on November 29, 2008 at 4:10 pm · filed under

BHP Billiton called to account for damaging projects

Friends of the Earth

Indigenous and environmental campaigners will highlight the ecological and social impacts of BHP Billiton’s operations in Australia and overseas at the company’s AGM in Melbourne today. According to Friends of the Earth, BHP Billiton has tried to greenwash over the damaging impacts of projects such as its Olympic Dam uranium and copper mine in South Australia, while exploiting legal loopholes to avoid environmental and social responsibility.

posted by seamas on November 27, 2008 at 2:39 pm · filed under

Pioneer study enlists indigenous understandings of water management

CSIRO Media Centre

The TRaCK (Tropical Rivers and Coastal Knowledge) funded research in the Daly River catchment in the Northern Territory and the Fitzroy River catchment in the Kimberley region of Western Australia is pioneering the inclusion of indigenous concerns and knowledge in water management.  Indigenous peoples will be involved not only in consultation, but also in research, monitoring, and as advisors on river health. 

posted by ruby on November 26, 2008 at 9:19 am · filed under

Companies pledge to remain GM free

Greenpeace

Leading supermarket brands Coles, Aldi and IGA Metcash, top users of canola oil Goodman Fielder, Unilever and Peerless foods, and some of the biggest consumer food brands including Kellogs, Heinz, Arnott’s, Carman’s Fine Foods, King Island Dairy and Lilydale have pledged not to use genetically modified canola in their products. Australia’s first GM canola crops are being harvested this year in Victoria and NSW after independent reviews allowed the state based moratoria on GM canola crops to expire last year. Greenpeace, meanwhile, has recently released a True Food Guide Canola Edition instructing consumers on how to shop ‘GE Free.’

posted by ruby on November 26, 2008 at 9:06 am · filed under

CSIRO creating trial market for natural resources

CSIRO

The CSIRO has created an online trial market, Australian Knowledge Exchange (AKX), which will attempt to predict future water supply.  Knowledge markets, such as AKX, may revolutionise natural resource management: they provide an incentive for people to reveal knowledge about the supply or demand of a natural resource, knowledge that is usually widely dispersed and difficult to aggregate.

The trial of AKX is asking for participants in NSW and Canberra, participants will receive play money and the person who most closely predicts dam levels will win a small monetary prize, website: http://akx.csiro.au/

posted by kirsty on November 23, 2008 at 2:28 pm · filed under

Funding to help groups care for our country

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts

The Australian Government has announced over $28 million in funding for 137 local and community groups to implement environmental and sustainable farming projects under its Caring for our Country program.

posted by seamas on November 20, 2008 at 7:23 pm · filed under

e-Waste recycling plant opens at Villawood

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts

Environment Minister Peter Garrett today opened a new Sims e-waste recycling facility in Villawood, Sydney. The plant expected to divert as much as 20,000 tonnes of electronic waste from landfills when it operates at full capacity.

posted by seamas on November 20, 2008 at 7:16 pm · filed under

Australia-China ministerial dialogue on climate change

Minister for Climate Change and Water

Australia’s Minister for Climate Change and Water, Senator Penny Wong, hosted a ministerial dialogue with the Vice-Chair of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and the Chinese Minister responsible for climate change, Mr Xie Zhenhua, in Canberra yesterday.  The meeting highlighted Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) as an important developing technology for both national administrations, with China agreeing to support efforts under Australia’s proposed $100 million Global (CCS) Institute and stating that it was an important vehicle to accelerate global demonstration of CSS technology at a commercial scale.

posted by ruby on November 19, 2008 at 9:47 am · filed under

Menindee Lakes project contract awarded

Minister for Climate Change and Water

The Minister for Climate Change and Water Penny wong  has announced the successful tenderer for the next step in the Darling River Water Savings Project. Sinclair Knight Merz will refine the water savings measures identified under a previous stage of the project, one option being the potential use of groundwater extraction and an aquifer storage system to provide water for Broken Hill.

posted by patrick on November 14, 2008 at 12:11 pm · filed under

Six degree rise highlights emissions target urgency: WWF

WWF

The International Energy Agency’s 2008 World Energy Outlook report, which claims that a global temperature increase of 6 degrees is possible, highlights the urgent needs for stronger greenhouse gas reductions. Thw WWF, urging a global target of 25% below 1990 levels by 2020, says the only thing preventing this being achieved is the lack of political will.

posted by patrick on November 13, 2008 at 3:09 pm · filed under