Browsing: <a href="/tag/finance-awards-good-practice">Finance, awards, good practice</a> <i class="grey">•</i> <a href="/tag/adaptation-science">Adaptation, science</a>

• Regulator issues new ERF guidance on building upgrades
  
• Shell loses CO2 patent right after dispute with Exxon
  
• Macfarlane gazettes new ARENA funding determination

Today's NSW Budget allocates $7 million to overhaul biodiversity laws and policies, and $16.9 million to halve assessment time for major projects and improve consultation.

• Queensland Government to mandate 2% ethanol
  
• NSW offers councils climate resilience grants
  
• Tribunal rules in favour of renderer

Sydney Airport's inaugural sustainability report says it will conduct a climate variability assessment this year, while Newcrest's latest report says it has 'far exceeded' regulatory requirements at its Telfer mine.

A super scheme with more than 785,000 members has imposed new restrictions on coal investments, while its socially responsible fund will also blacklist some coal-fired electricity generators and contractors to coal businesses.

The big four banks are under new pressure from activists to cease financing coal projects that could harm the Great Barrier Reef, while 'Lock the Gate' today sought a NSW Ombudsman's investigation into approval processes for mines.

• Climate resilience grants on offer
  
• WA Water warns of 'unprecedented climate change'
  
• CO2CRC seeks new chief to steer $100m budget spend

Investors' reluctance to back projects such as the expansion of the Abbot Point coal terminal isn't just a result of lobbying by Australian activitists, according to Baker & McKenzie carbon lawyer Martijn Wilder.

The recent move by big super fund Unisuper to exclude fossil fuel companies from its socially responsible investment options is just a 'sideshow' and diverts attention from the real issue facing the majority of super fund members – that their retirement asset has huge climate risk exposure that needs mitigation, according to the Asset Owners Disclosure Project.

Businesses need to be able to assure large shareholders they are dealing appropriately with climate risk, says a division of the Commonwealth Bank that manages $169 billion in assets.