The ACT will in future routinely quiz companies on their environmental, social and governance practices when making decisions on $1.4 billion in share investments managed by the ACT Treasury.
Governments in Australia have generally paid little attention to environmental risk issues when making decisions on how to invest the superannuation and other funds they manage, says a report prepared for the ACT Government.
Announcing November 24 as election day, PM John Howard has promised a re-elected Coalition would deliver environment policies that “tackle in a balanced way the great challenges of climate change and water security”.
Gore and IPCC share Nobel Peace Prize (with video); Turnbull names Gunns mill expert panel; Woodside gets clearance for Pluto LNG plant on Burrup; NSW seeks comment on Gosford alternative waste treatment plan.
The Queensland Court of Appeal today unanimously found the Queensland Conservation Council was denied natural justice by a tribunal that rejected its bid to require an Xstrata mine to offset indirect emissions from the end-use of its coal.
A major LNG processing facility planned for an island off WA that is a class A nature reserve has cleared its final environmental hurdle, with Federal Environment Minister yesterday granting EPBC Act approval to Chevron Australia for its Gorgon gas development.
NSW minister bills energy retailers $40m for climate change fund; TRUenergy comes in last in green electricity rankings; Shift back to shipping not a freight emissions saviour; EEO workshops scheduled
Australia could reduce its 2020 emissions to more than 30% below 1990 levels without resorting to carbon capture and storage or nuclear power, but only if it employs “potentially controversial” measures such as slashing beef consumption and requiring aluminium smelters to offset their emissions.
There would be net economic benefits from supporting emissions trading with a low to medium level clean energy target, says economic modelling commissioned by the Renewable Energy Generators of Australia (REGA).