To accommodate Footprint's coverage from the Paris climate talks, this will be the last 'environment law and policy tracker' for 2015. Tracker will resume in 2016.

• Upcoming events
• Corporate news
• Jurisdictional round-up (national, states and territories)
• Jobs and appointments

Upcoming events:

• 2015 legal review: Who got done for what? A December 2 Sydney forum hosted by the Australasian Land and Groundwater Association.
• Environment and waste conference A December 2 Sydney conference hosted by the Australian Sustainable Business Group.
• Transitioning to ISO14001:2015 A December 3 workshop in Melbourne, hosted by the Australian Environment Business Network.
• The 36th Hydrology and Water Resources Symposium A December 7 to 10 conference in Hobart, hosted by Engineers Australia.
• Dangerous goods and GHS workshop A seminar in Sydney on December 8, hosted by the Australian Sustainable Business Group.
• Contaminated land conference A seminar in Sydney on December 9, hosted by the Australian Sustainable Business Group.

For other events, including a 'summer study' in Sydney on energy productivity, see the extensive Footprint what's on listings.

Corporate news:

• Fossil fuel companies risk wasting up to $2.2 trillion over the next decade by pursuing projects that could be uneconomic due to international action to limit climate change and rapid advances in clean technologies, says a new report from the Carbon Tracker Initiative.
• Law firm Baker & McKenzie has issued the latest edition of its international guide to contaminated land.

National:

• Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has committed the ALP to 45% below 2005 levels by 2030, and zero net emissions by 2050.
• The Clean Energy Finance Corporation is aiming to accelerate investment in Australia's bioenergy sector through a $100 million cornerstone commitment to a new equity fund for bioenergy and energy-from-waste. The Australian Bioenergy Fund, to be managed by the Foresight Group, will support investment in a broad range of projects and Foresight will seek another $100 million in private equity investment for the fund.
• Environment Minister Greg Hunt has gazetted an ERF method for earning carbon credits by installing high-efficiency commercial appliances - such as air conditioners and refrigerated display cabinets - in commercial premises.
• The Federal Government has issued a revised national carbon offset standard for organisations seeking carbon neutrality.
• The CSIRO has issued a report on energy storage safety and released an energy safety consumer guide.
• The Gene Technology Regulator has invited comment on an application from Bayer CropScience for a licence for the national commercial release of canola.
• Comment closes on December 14 on a Department of Health discussion paper on proposed changes to assessment procedures for industrial chemicals.

Queensland:

• Submissions are due by December 18 to a parliamentary committee inquiry into the State Government's Water Legislation Amendment Bill 2015.
• Submissions are due by January 18 to a parliamentary committee inquiry into the State Government's planning bills.
• Comment closes on December 24 on a proposed Wet Tropics water plan for far North Queensland.
• Comment closes on December 18 on a 10-year biofuels roadmap released by the Palaszczuk Government.

NSW:

• The NSW EPA is seeking a consultant to develop a To develop an odour complaint protocol and train EPA officers in its use to ensure consistent state-wide implementation.
• Comment closes February 29 on a draft coastal management bill that includes a mechanism to classify areas as vulnerable to climate change and other hazards. (See the Footprint article 'NSW unveils coastal bill and policy').
• Comment closes on December 11 on the NSW EPA's draft revised version of the raw mulch order, which governs the use of mulch created from waste plant material and timber residues.

ACT:

• The ACT Government has released a review of its climate change strategy.

Victoria:

• The Victorian Parliament has passed the Fisheries Amendment Bill 2015, which will phase out commercial net fishing in Port Phillip Bay over the next seven years.
• Meat rendering company Australian Tallow Producers Pty Ltd has been found guilty by Melbourne Magistrates Court of three odour-related air pollution offences and will be sentenced on December 21.
• Comment closes on December 22 on the Electricity Safety (Bushfire Mitigation) Further Amendment Regulations 2015.
• The administrator of the VEET energy efficiency scheme administrator is inviting suggestions by December 11 on new activities that should be subsidised through the scheme.
• Comment closes on December 14 on EPA Victoria's review of its scheduled premises regulation. (See the Footprint article 'Victoria signals changes to controls on high-risk sites').
• Comment closes on December 20 on a draft priority statement that would govern the expenditure of money raised through landfill levies.
• The Metropolitan Waste and Resource Recovery Group is seeking comments by December 18 on a draft metropolitan waste and resource recovery implementation plan.
• Grant opportunity: Applications close on February 12 (energy assessments) and May 13 (materials assessments) for Sustainability Victoria resource efficiency grants.
• Grant opportunity: Applications close on December 29 for a new $1.5 million grants program to help councils cut emissions and boost climate resilience. Grants of between $10,000 and $80,000 are available.

South Australia:

• In a move that could result in new major projects having to offset their greenhouse gases, the South Australian Government has announced it will aim for zero net emissions by 2050. The Premier's announcement follows the Government's release of an expert panel's report that provides a roadmap for reaching the net zero goal. (See the Footprint article 'New offset obligations loom as SA aims for net zero emissions).

Western Australia:

• WA Environment Minister Albert Jacob has introduced a Biodiversity Conservation Bill that would replace existing decades-old legislation.

Jobs and appointments:

• The WA Department of Environment Regulation is seeking a Perth-based senior manager of clearing regulation.
• Veolia is seeking a Sydney-based environmental planner.
• Hays is recruiting on behalf of a "prominent Sydney council" for a sustainability strategist.
• EPA Victoria is seeking a Melbourne-based operations officer – air network, to trial and implementation of different environmental air monitoring technologies and approaches.
• The Australian Conservation Foundation is seeking a Melbourne-based coordinator for its 'climate reality' program.
• The ACT Environment and Planning Directorate is recruiting for an energy efficiency audit and compliance analyst, for a six-month period.
• Queensland's Department of Transport and Main Roads is seeking a Mackay-based senior environmental officer.
• Tasmania's environment department (DPIWE) is seeking a Hobart-based general manager, natural and cultural heritage.
• Tasmania's environment department (DPIWE) is seeking a Hobart-based contaminated sites officer.