Environment ministers today failed to reach agreement on a national ban or levy for plastic bags, prompting South Australia to vow to go ahead with a state ban.
But they committed to an investigation into the merits of a national container deposit scheme and flagged that e-waste would be high on the agenda at its November meeting.
Victoria tweaks mandatory energy and water efficiency scheme * WA orders Wyndham Port to prepare improvement plan * Federal government seeks emissions trading and climate risk experts * New climate department absorbs DFAT climate role * Upstream oil and gas greenhouse emissions up, but intensity down * Office tower owners partner with environment group * Victoria to offer second tranche geothermal permits
Vienna waltz – Labor sidesteps on Vienna declaration cuts * WA Parliament passes waste legislation and geothermal amendments * Greg Hunt to take on Wong and Garrett * ABARE says climate change could lead to 19% decline in agriculture productivity * EPA Victoria issues air protocol for mining * WA regulator proposes overhaul of water and wastewater sector * Mothballed Mobil refinery to be home to Adelaide's desal plant * Cleaner coal – union urges faster action and more cash * Co-firing with coal set to be an early beneficiary of Labor's MRET * Strong support for mandatory sustainability reporting * Greywater now main garden water source for 15% of homes
Dr Nelson says Kyoto's only a placebo * Magistrates get tough * Investor group looks at climate change impacts on corporate earnings in four key sectors * NT says new federal government will renew debate on a national container deposit scheme
Magistrate orders waste company and director to pay $97,500 * SA Legislative Council stands firm on changes to solar tariff law * Environment group calls for NOx trading * SA marine parks bill through * Green Building Council seeks more business partners *
SA Greens win Upper House solar bill changes but knocked back on national electricity bills* WA waste bill passes Lower House * Environment group urges refundable deposit scheme for car batteries * Power generation largely behind 22% rise in NOx * NSW looks for 2008 Green Globe award winners