Browsing: Carbon law, policy/NGER

The Minerals Council is finalising a new round of modelling on its preferred approach to emissions trading and has presented interim findings to ministers Wong and Ferguson, council CEO Mitch Hooke told a Senate inquiry today. Meanwhile, Exxon Mobil said it had made representations to more than 50 MPs over the scheme.

• Prospect of maximum cut of more than 15% still in the offing?
  
• Majority favour strong targets, no matter what other nations do, survey finds
  
• Westpac, NAB and Mirvac sign on to Poznan communiqué
  
• Targeting importers need not breach WTO rules, suggests Harvard report

A Senate inquiry has commissioned former ABARE chief Brian Fisher to complete an 'independent peer review' of Treasury modelling by the end of January and has lined up the Minerals Council, Exxon, the Aluminium Council and ACCI to speak at a public hearing on Monday.

Australia played a crucial role in ensuring last year's Bali talks concluded with a reference to developed countries making cuts of 25% to 40% by 2020, but you wouldn't know it from comments yesterday by Climate Change Minister Penny Wong. Meanwhile, the Senate yesterday conducted a passionate debate over tax breaks for carbon sink forests.

• NSW pushes back start date for energy efficiency scheme
  
• Climate Institute tackles 'carbon polluter myths'
  
• Ferguson kicks off energy white paper process
  
• Plastic recycling rate stalls
  
• EPA Victoria proposes guidelines for biosolids in construction projects
  
• Energy efficiency most important factor when buying whitegoods, ABS survey finds
  
• NSW offers inaugural Peter Cullen scholarship
  
• IEA issues 'gen 2' biofuels report
  
• Greenpeace costs coal, blames Newcastle earthquake on mining
  
• UN climate chief warns of critical need for 'real progress' at Poznan

Climate Change Minister Penny Wong will on December 15 release the Government's medium-term emissions targets and white paper, but it now won't be accompanied by draft legislation. Meanwhile, consideration of a stronger renewable energy target and new energy efficiency measures has been delayed until next year.

Next year's Copenhagen meeting will not be climate policy Nirvana, Australia's climate change chief Martin Parkinson has told CE Daily. In a speech in Canberra yesterday, Parkinson said the nation's emissions reduction target will not be the main driver of economic cost and cautioned that trading will fix the biggest market failure, but complementary measures will still be essential.

• Australia lags in sustainability reporting, global survey finds
  
• Minerals Council tells review of 'chilling inefficiency' in approvals process
  
• Audit appeal process crucial, APPEA says
  
• Concentrations of greenhouse gases still rising, WMO says

• NSW fudges on energy efficiency scheme
  
• Senate pressures Government on housing scheme sustainability
  
• Coalition Senator hits back at Climate Institute
  
• Energy revolution costly but possible, says IEA chief
  
• Victoria launches water conservation campaign
  
• UK Exchequer includes green initiatives in rescue plan

The Climate Institute has today taken out ads in major newspapers in a bid to push companies to reveal their positions on the right 2020 target for Australia and their views on what constitutes a safe, long-term global level of greenhouse gases.