Mutual 'disgust' at years of government delay are behind today's landmark compact between the computer industry and environment groups that calls for regulation of e-waste by 2010, says the NSW Total Environment Centre.
Today's changes to the Rudd Government's proposed trading scheme will be backed by a new $75.8 million Australian Carbon Trust. Plus details of how the industry 'buffer' will work, what would trigger an 'immediate' review of industry assistance and how the Government plans to achieve a 25% cut.
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd this afternoon ditched the Government's commitments to a mid-2010 launch of emissions trading and simultaneously committed to deeper 2020 emission cuts if an ambitious international agreement emerges at UN talks in Copenhagen.
Deadlines loom for two Department of Climate Change emissions trading discussion papers – one examining how to grant companies extra time to pay for permits and the other exploring possible changes to the Corporations Act.
An analysis of company public reports under the mandatory EEO scheme concludes implementing all identified energy efficiency projects would deliver savings of more than $650 million a year and this is likely to be only a portion of what can be achieved.
The WA EPA has issued recommendations that clear the way for a project it considers should not go ahead 'as a matter of principle' – the massive Gorgon LNG gas project that would establish three LNG production trains on a Class A nature reserve and store CO2 deep underground.
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and state and territory leaders today endorsed the final design of the proposed Renewable Energy Target scheme – specifying exemptions for large emitters – and released a draft national energy efficiency strategy.
This Friday, May 1, is the initial deadline for big emitters to submit audited emissions and financial data on activities deemed likely to be eligible for free permits – but the Rudd Government has yet to finalise most of the activity definitions crucial to preparing that data.
Ahead of tomorrow's COAG meeting in Hobart, two alliances representing groups across the spectrum of business and society have formally urged governments to move quickly and forcefully on energy efficiency.