Highlights include a new Department of AWE; a coal mine legal challenge, stewardship scheme updates, and chemicals regulations. Jobs include posts with the NSW EPA, Nyrstar, Knight Frank and Aurecon.
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- Upcoming events
- Resources and corporate action
- International, national, state and territory round-up
- Jobs and appointments
Upcoming events:
Deciphering the UN climate talks in Madrid. A December 18 evening seminar in Canberra, hosted by the ANU Climate Change Institute.
ANU climate update. A February 12 event in Canberra, hosted by the Australian National University.
2020 North Australia savanna fire forum. A February 18 event in Darwin, hosted by the Indigenous Carbon Industry Network.
NSW Environment Management Workshop. A February 18 and 19 workshop in Sydney, hosted by the Australian Sustainable Business Group.
Energy investment: Large-scale solar, pumped hydro, and battery storage. A February 25 and 26 trio of conferences in Sydney, hosted by Informa.
AEBN national conference: Environment, climate and energy. A March 6 conference in Melbourne, hosted by the Australian Environment Business Network.
Australian hydrogen conference. A March 30 and 31 conference in Melbourne, hosted by Informa.
Wind industry forum 2020. A March 31 conference in Melbourne, hosted by the Clean Energy Council.
National sustainability conference. An April 27 and 28 conference in Brisbane, hosted by the Association for Sustainability in Business.
Large-scale solar forum 2020. A May 14 event in Brisbane, hosted by the Clean Energy Council.
PFAS forum. A May 19 forum in Melbourne, hosted by Informa.
Australian clean energy summit. A July 14 and 15 event in Sydney, hosted by the Clean Energy Council.
Resources and corporate action:
Webcasts of side-events at the UN climate talks, hosted by a wide range of organisations, are available here. (Click on the mark in the right-hand column.)
Daily briefings on developments at the UN climate talks from the independent Earth Negotiations Bulletin are available here.
Australian Gas Networks has started construction of an $11.4 million renewable hydrogen production facility at Tonsley, which will start production in mid-2020 and blend 5% hydrogen into the gas supply for some nearby homes.
Real estate company Mirvac has become the first Australian property group to join the RE100 initiative, committing to move to 100% renewables.
Norton Rose Fulbright has released new briefings on climate risk and director liability.
The Centre for Policy Development has made public a speech on director liability climate risk by former High Court judge Ken Hayne.
National:
A shake-up of the federal public service will result in the creation on February 1 of a new Department of Agriculture, Water and Environment, with energy and emissions dealt with by a new Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources. See the administrative arrangements order here.
After ignoring a key requirement of the Product Stewardship Act for two years, the Lighting Council has decided not to renew accreditation of its FluoroCycle mercury recovery scheme.
The Battery Stewardship Council has released the final design of a national recycling scheme, but it's voluntary and there is no sign that Energizer and Duracell will join it.
The Morrison government has finalised wide-ranging rules that reveal exactly how its new chemicals law will operate, including its ban on animal testing of cosmetics.
The Australian Energy Market Operator has released a new draft integrated system plan that prioritises actions to develop a future-ready grid.
Energy ministers have agreed that new electric appliances including air-conditioners must be capable of external power-down, after modelling showed the net benefits could be as high as $2.8 billion out to 2036.
New reports released by energy ministers list actions to make existing buildings much more energy efficient, including mandatory requirements for HVAC systems and a national approach to subsidised upgrades.
ARENA will provide $630,000 for the Sustainable Australia Fund (SAF) to expand its Better Building Finance service to NSW and SA. Originally badged as Environmental Upgrade Finance, the scheme was originally developed by the City of Melbourne, and is now used by 34 Victorian councils.
ARENA will also [provide] $6 million to support a new industry-led innovation hub for affordable heating and cooling.
The federal government has released updated emissions projections and an information sheet on tracking to its targets.
Have your say!: The Senate Economics Committee is holding an inquiry into proposed legislative changes on carbon capture and storage.
Defence might be using firefighting foams that are entirely free of fluorine compounds as soon as next year, a federal Parliamentary inquiry has heard.
Concerted global action on climate change is necessary to prevent continued deterioration of the Great Barrier Reef, a federal government report has acknowledged.
The federal environment department has announced water infrastructure for the Adani coal mine will undergo EPBC assessment for potential impacts on threatened species, but with no consideration of water impacts.
Have your say!: Comments on an EPBC Act review discussion paper are due by February 14.
A newly updated red list on threatened species from the International Union for the Conservation of Nature concludes almost 25% of all known eucalypt species are threatened with extinction.
COAG Energy Council has released its scope of work on immediate reliability and security measures, which encompasses a review of the Reliability Standard.
Grant opportunity: The federal government is inviting applications by February 28 for round-two grants of up to $500,000 under its Our Marine Parks grants program.
Have your say!: Nominations will be accepted until February 14 for new National Heritage listings.
Have your say – last chance!: Submissions are due by tomorrow to a Senate inquiry into product stewardship.
Have your say!: Comment closes February 14 on a Department of Environment and Energy draft guide to protected species affected by paddock tree removal.
Have your say!: Comments are due by December 23 to an independent review of the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust.
Queensland:
Court case: The Environmental Defenders Office has started proceedings in the Queensland Land Court on behalf of the Bimblebox Alliance against Clive Palmer's proposed Waratah coal mine in the Galilee Basin, alleging it would cause irreversible damage to grazing land within a nature reserve.
A parliamentary committee has released a report on the impacts of invasive plants and their control in Queensland.
Have your say!: A parliamentary inquiry into a Biodiscovery Bill is accepting submissions until January 10.
NSW:
The state government has granted planning approval for the $188 million 125MW Maryvale solar farm near Dubbo.
Statutory development: The EPA will use a review next year of radiation legislation to ensure greater consistency with other states, and will attempt to ensure radiation licences from other Australian jurisdictions can be used in NSW.
The NSW Audit Office has released a report on the financial statements of the Planning, Industry and Environment cluster of agencies.
The state government is offering grants of up to $5,000 per manufacturing site to install compressed air metering to monitor electricity consumption, with applications to be made to manufacturing@energysaver.nsw.gov.au.
Victoria:
More than 400 large energy-using sites will lose their automatic exemption from Victoria's energy efficiency scheme, under changes proposed by the state government.
Ahead of a December 19 and 20 Supreme Court plea hearing on the Hazelwood mine fire prosecutions, those affected by the 45-day fire can make victim impact statements.
The EPA has released the first batch of submissions received in response to its draft environmental regulations.
The EPA has released a works approval application for a lead acid battery recycling facility that would be established two kilometres from the Latrobe Valley town of Morwell.
Statutory development: The state government has finalised the Mineral Resources (Sustainable Development) (Extractive Industries) Regulations 2019, which replace the 2010 version.
Melbourne's City of Yarra has released a draft climate emergency plan.
The Victorian Environmental Assessment Commission has made public submissions made in response to its draft report on coastal reserves.
Have your say!: Comments are due by January 8 on a works approval application by Great Southern Waste Technologies for a waste to energy facility in Melbourne.
Have your say!: Comments are due by December 23 on the draft method for identifying old growth forest.
Have your say!: Comments are due by January 24 on the draft Coastcare Victoria strategy 2020-2025.
Have your say!: Comments are due by February 5 on a discussion paper on Victoria's proposed Hydrogen Investment Program.
Have your say!: The state government has invited comments by December 31 on planning for Melbourne's industrial and commercial land.
Tasmania:
- Statutory development: A Workplaces (Protection from Protestors) Amendment Bill is currently before state Parliament.
South Australia:
Statutory development: A Bill to lift the moratorium on genetically modified crops has been rejected by the Legislative Council.
Grant opportunity: The Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges NRM is offering grants worth a total of $200,000 for blue carbon pilot projects in the
The City of Adelaide has invited tenders for the supply of LED lighting.
Western Australia:
The EPA has proposed that proponents of major projects take all reasonable and practicable steps to avoid, reduce and offset their direct emissions.
A decision by the Western Australian government will finally allow the state's graziers to host a large number of greenhouse gas abatement projects.
New data from Chevron shows it risks falling millions of tonnes short of a mandatory requirement to abate greenhouse gas emissions from its Gorgon LNG project.
Have your say!: Comments are due by January 28 on a Department of Water and Environmental Regulation discussion paper on proposed changes to the Environmental Protection Act.
Have your say!: Comment closes January 3 on draft guidance that describes the type of information on air emissions that should accompany applications for a works approval or environmental licence.
Jobs and appointments:
The NSW EPA has created the new position of executive director, regulatory practice and advice.
NSW Planning, Industry and Environment is recruiting an executive director, biodiversity and conservation (package from $274,701).
Property consultancy Knight Frank has created a new sustainability manager, based in Melbourne.
Consultancy Aurecon is seeking a sustainability lead for its built environment team, based in Sydney.
The City of Melbourne is hiring a general manager, strategy, planning and climate change.
The British High Commission is recruiting a Canberra-based climate change policy advisor.
Nyrstar is hiring an environmental advisor for its Port Pirie smelter.
Engineering and construction company Clough is seeking an environmental coordinator, FIFO from Perth.
Construction company BMD is hiring a North Queensland-based environmental manager.
Pilbara Ports Authority is recruiting a principal sustainability advisor.
First Quantum is seeking an environmental superintendent for its Raventhorpe nickel operation.
Singleton Council is hiring a sustainability team leader.
Ironbark Sustainability is hiring a part-time project manager for its Melbourne/Hobart climate program, based in either city.
Pew Charitable Trusts is seeking a carbon farming national campaign leader.
