Archived News for Green Sector Professionals
The Queensland Government has announced its intentions to make three Wild River declarations to enforce strict environmental protection measures in the state’s west.
The declarations will protect the state’s Lake Eyre Basin from large dams and unsustainable industrial development, covering the Cooper Creek, Georgina and Diamantina catchments.
The government has announced a squad of 10 Indigenous river rangers, who will be tasked with patrolling the region.
Commercial wind power forecasting system developed
Roam Consulting, a Brisbane-based firm that specialises in energy market modelling, has used UNSW research to develop the Wind Insight software.
By extracting key information from numerical weather prediction systems, the program can alert power system operators in advance of potential rapid changes in wind power output. This allows operators to more effectively manage the grid and set up power reserves as needed, which will help maintain power system security.
Engineer Nicholas Cutler, who works at Roam Consulting, originally developed the technology as a PhD student with his supervisors at UNSW in the School of Electrical Engineering and Telecommunications.
The arrangement with Roam Consulting is the first Australian deal forged under the University of New South Wales' Easy Access IP framework, which was adopted\in November to turn more university-bred research into practical, real-world solutions.
“The deal went extremely well,” said Kevin Cullen, CEO of NewSouth Innovations, the commercialisation company of UNSW. “Easy Access did exactly what it was designed to do and that was to make the technology easily available.”
Durban agrees to reach deal on CO2 emissions by 2015
International climate talks in Durban have seen India, China and US commit to a legally binding limitation on fossil fuel emissions after all participating countries have agreed to produce the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change to negotiate a new legal agreement by 2015, taking effect by 2020.
Review of impacts of climate change on biodiversity published
A major new scientific review, involving more than 30 scientists from Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands sets out our current knowledge of the impacts of climate change on biodiversity in the latest special edition of the scientific journal Pacific Conservation Biology.
Carbon Farming Initiative administrator opens
The Federal Government has officially opened the Carbon Farming Initiative Administrator, forming part of the Federal Government’s Clean Energy Future plan.
Audit finds Victorian contaminated sites mismanaged
The Victorian Auditor-General has released a damming report of the managing of contaminated sites by the Department of Planning and Community Development, the Environment Protection Authority and local councils.
Sustainable Melbourne Fund promotes $6.4m investment program
Sustainable Melbourne Fund has launched a web-based animation and case study video providing information on the availability of loans of up to $500,000 through its $6.4 million investment program for sustainability projects throughout Victoria.
Australian Sustainability Award winners announced
Amcor, PanAust, Wesfarmers, Hepburn Community Wind Park Co-op and Bantix Worldwide have been announced as winners of the Australian Sustainability Awards.
Queensland solar farm gets green light
The Queensland Government has nominated Ingenero its preferred bidder in the tender for the $6.76 million Cloncurry Solar Farm.
Musselroe wind farm construction to start
The Tasmanian Government has announced that construction on the $400 million Musselroe wind farm has been authorized to continue into its construction phase.
Sydney announces low-carbon energy network
The City of Sydney has announced it will begin final negotiations with energy provider Cogent Energy to build and operate the country's first low-carbon energy network tasked with powering central Sydney.
CEC publishes sustainable energy report
A report published by the Clean Energy Council (CEC) shows that solar panels installed in Australian homes has grown 35-fold over the last three years. The report found that over 1 million Australians now live in homes powered by solar panels.
ACT releases carbon pathways for public consultation
The ACT Government has released five possible pathways for achieving its carbon reduction goals for public consultation. Comprising of five separate possible plans, the common goal sees the Territory Government reduce its carbon emissions by 40 per cent by 2020, and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060.
MDBA releases more environmental flows
The Murray-Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) has announced the release of a further 20GL for the Living Murray plan as part of a larger environmental watering currently underway in the Barmah–Millewa Forest icon site.
Government opens Energy Security Fund
The Federal Government has announced it is now accepting applications from eligible electricity generators for cash assistance under the Energy Security Fund.
Government outlines new carbon farming methodology
The Federal Government has announced a new Carbon Farming Initative methodology that will aims to incentivise waste management industry and local governments to reduce emissions.
Queensland opens waste levy and funding assistance
The Queensland Government has announced its $159 million Waste Avoidance and Resource Efficiency Fund has opened. The fund is aimed at assisting businesses to cut waste costs, develop new markets for recycled materials and crack down on illegal dumping and littering.
Government forms Commonwealth Environmental Water Office
The Federal Government has formed a Commonwealth Environmental Water Office as a distinct entity within the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities to improve accountability and stakeholder engagement in environmental water management.
First round of Action on the Ground opens
The Federal Government has announced the first round of funding under the $99 million Action on the Ground initiative is now open.
Antarctic CRC releases ocean findings
The Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems CRC has released a synopsis of the latest scientific findings of the changes of the salinity, temperature, acidity and circulation of the Southern Ocean.
New Pacific climate research released
The Australian Government’s Pacific Climate Change Science Program (PCCSP) has released the most comprehensive research data on the impacts of climate change on the Pacific to date.