Browsing: <a href="/tag/au">Federal</a> <i class="grey">•</i> <a href="/tag/air-pollution-odour">Air pollution, odour</a>

• Time to upgrade NSW waste policy, auditor-general says
  
• 'Environmental professionals must spotlight government failures', EIANZ told
  
• Science academies urge governments to move faster on carbon capture and storage
  
• NPI issues new reporting guide

NSW flags assessment fee hike for chemical destruction technologies

* Wong steers steady course in international talks

* Australia's forests offset 9% of emissions, government report says

* Turnbull slams solar rebate means test

* National Pollutant Inventory overhauls fuel tanks manual

* New Zealand Budget flags major push on energy efficient homes

* Pew Centre looks at trading lessons from the EU

• National Water Commission to scrutinise water use by mines
  
• Federal energy program issues detailed efficiency guide
  
• NSW issues exemptions for land-applied wastes
  
• Shipping company fined $35,000
  
• Queensland council fined $40,000
  
• National Pollutant Inventory offers training on new reporting system
  
• Queensland EPA offers sustainability grants
  
• GM crops a boon for regional economies, ABARE says

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.

The federal environment department has released emissions data from almost 4,000 facilities across Australia. Emissions of benzene plunged 38%, but emissions of fine particles rose 18% and formaldeyde emissions were up 9%, the latest National Pollutant Inventory results shows.

• Rudd and Somare sign forest carbon partnership
  
  
  
• Stern hits back at Productivity Commission
  
  
  
• 'Poor environmental record' prompts EPA Victoria to oppose licence
  
  
  
• Queensland court hands down suspended jail sentence for polluter

• Rudd flags soil carbon push
  
• Sustainable buildings council briefs Garrett and Garnaut on 'white certificates' trading proposal
  
• Queensland EPA charges company directors over PCBs
  
• South Australia to ban plastic bags by year's end

EPA Victoria trading scheme to start by mid-year (with audio) * NPI releases new fuel tank emissions handbook, Queensland releases stormwater best practice guide * Defence seeks site remediation companies * Petrol vapour project awarded $480,000 federal grant * 'Don't focus on the green consumer' (audio link)

Energy ministers approve 'stage two' energy efficiency package * Magistrate fines construction company $95,000 * Carbon risk – more than 40 ASX200 companies could suffer material losses * National Pollutant Inventory releases new guidance * NSW offers renewables funding * Sydney Water issues water conservation guidelines * SA approves $40 million foundry expansion