Browsing: <a href="/tag/interest-group-actions">Interest group actions</a> <i class="grey">•</i> <a href="/tag/assessments-approvals-licensing">Assessments, approvals, licensing</a>

A greenwashing internet sweep conducted by the ACCC has revealed a staggering 57% of businesses reviewed were found to have made concerning claims about their environmental credentials.

• State government aims to better measure environmental costs and benefits
  
• Transparency International to increase scrutiny of Australian mining industry
  
• Former judge joins EPA board

Opponents who successfully slowed AGL's coal seam gas expansion plans probably saved the company a lot of money, according to energy market experts.

The Queensland Land Court has recommended the State Government approve Adani's Carmichael coal mine, but only if it improves its water monitoring and "controls or regulates" threats to an endangered bird species.

Environmental activists have discovered a string of penalties against a company seeking to expand its WA mining operations, and say the issue calls into question the State Government's policy on publicising fines.

Banks and investors no longer automatically accept proponent and government assurances on environmental risk, and are now increasingly doing their own risk analysis on finance for major projects, according to the Investor Group on Climate Change.

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.

Activist groups fighting Whitehaven's Maules Creek coal mine are targeting an international investor and have urged a society representing environmental consultants to investigate whether a member has breached its code of conduct.

A company will be allowed to seek approval for a full-scale oil shale plant at Gladstone, paving the way for development of massive reserves along the state's coast and prompting warnings from the Greens and environment groups.

Assisted by senior regulators, a new association of bankers and investors plans to develop finance industry guidelines to ensure lenders properly scrutinise the environmental credentials of projects seeking funding.