It's Labor's first commitment period – with the Rudd government last night setting out where its climate change and environment cash will be spent over 2008-2012. New Budget climate measures will get $341.6 million in 2008-09 and a total of $2.3 billion over 2007-08 to 2011-12.
Meanwhile, Treasurer Wayne Swan says the review of the tax system – due to report by the end of 2009 – will 'look at the role to be played by environmental taxes'.
CE Daily looks at where the money will go and guides you through the maze of Budget papers.
Premier Paul Lennon yesterday laid out in state parliament a climate change strategy which will see Tasmania become the second Australian state to mandate a 60% emissions cut by 2050 and which will also introduce a state-based carbon offsets scheme.
Meanwhile, the Garnaut Review has put back by one week the release of its emissions trading paper and rescheduled Professor Garnaut's speech on trading.
How Australia shares the burden of reducing greenhouse gas emissions will be critical to the success or failure of its policy response, Professor Ross Garnaut has told a review forum in Perth.
The forum focussed on emissions from transport and buildings. Could using permit revenue to boost public transport help reduce vehicle emissions and ensure the poor aren’t hit hardest by policy changes? And should Australia have a energy efficiency trading scheme, as well as an emissions trading scheme, to recognise the value of making buildings more energy efficient?
Treasury tells Rudd to put Australia 'on a clean energy footing' * Wong says we will set an interim target, as UN climate change chief urges major emitters to deploy climate change 'Marshall plan' * Victoria's Hazelwood power plant a cleaner fossil fuels case study as global energy agency suggests replacing or upgrading more than a third of the world's coal-fired capacity
* NSW environment group weighs in against NSW power industry privatisation * Program offers industry a 'low-risk' chance to test sustainability, Garrett says * 6-star green building flurry continues * Wood waste power plant proposed for WA
The European Commission last night unveiled plans for a sweeping overhaul of the EU's emissions trading scheme. It also proposed new measures to speed up the development of carbon capture and storage and to put Europe on a path to meet its 20% by 2020 renewables target.
And in comments likely to set off alarm bells for Australian exporters to Europe, EC President José Manuel Barroso floated the prospect of protecting the competitiveness of EU industry by requiring importers to obtain emission allowances.
CE Daily reports on the latest initiatives from the region widely seen as the global pacesetter on climate change policy. (with video
TEC lobbies energy rule maker for demand management changes * Leaders set March deadline for MRET expansion plan * Alumina production to drive huge growth in manufacturing energy consumption * EnergyAustralia to spend $600,000 to assuage ACCC concerns over green energy claims
* Green Building Council rethinks timber certification * Federal government seeks advice on climate change and natural resource management * NSW survey confirms major opinion shifts on climate and water
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
Will Australia’s permit price cap bite the dust? * U.S. not alone in not wanting numbers, top negotiator says * IEA sets out massive energy challenge * Up to 8% premium on U.S. green offices now and U.S. permit price of more than $20 predicted within five years
NSW fuels plan reveals Caltex's $450,000 fuel quality 'late fee' * NZ business coalition says trading scheme risks 'substantial' * Climate change will cost rural householders more, study says * Sydney Water shortlists for desal plant wind power contract * Victoria details $77 million biosolids contract, SA announces $100,000 biodiesel grant * Federal department proposes new EPBC Act harvesting guidelines * City of Sydney tests 'car share' scheme guidelines
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 *