Browsing: International

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

The WTO has hinted it has harmful energy subsidies in its sights and says its rules are becoming more accommodating of environmental concerns. Meanwhile, Australia arrives in Bali in force.

BALI - Proposed Bali text refers to 25%-40% cuts * UN climate chief calls for ‘intelligent financial engineering’ and says make it tools before text * Business chief notes competition law barriers to sector-wide approaches, urges an end to ‘you first mentality’ and flags major clean energy finance proposal

BALI - Kevin Rudd and his fellow delegation leaders might not get to fly out of Bali without agreeing a text that at least refers to 25% to 40% cuts, suggests UN climate change chief Yvo de Boer, but there is one part of the targets debate he definitely wants on the back burner for now.



The climate change chief also outlined what role finance ministers could play in their Bali talks today and tomorrow and welcomed comments by WTO chief Pascal Lamy that the climate regime must drive the trade agenda, not vice versa. Meanwhile, Simon Crean said Australia is looking for developing countries to make binding commitments, but is not asking them to take on mandatory emissions targets.

In a major development, Australia's delegation to the Bali climate change talks has said it "fully supports" a call for developed countries to jointly achieve emissions reductions of 25% to 40% below 1990 levels by 2020.

Australia to help guide talks on Bali roadmap * Carbon capture and storage decision some way off * Funds and levies * Not so fast and fairly loose? Pew Centre chief appraises likely Bali outcome * Business group sets out thoughts on building a global carbon market * Environment and religious groups urge better use of levies to fund adaptation

SUMMARY: Court orders Amcor to pay $104,000 * Sustainability Victoria reports on waste progress * Asia Pacific Partnership and APEC overlooked in landmark U.S. and EU bid to remove tariffs on environmental goods * Business group says NZ climate bill has major flaws * UN climate chief says focus now should be on format of future talks *

NZ tables bill to introduce trading and restrict fossil-fuelled generation * NSW trading scheme administration – it's not our job to keep prices stable * Councils report on 2006-07 climate actions * Queenslanders flock to GreenPower * Sydney Water seeks liaison group nominations for desal plant

Steady as she goes? Rudd appoints climate department chief * Australia acknowledges U.S.-led process in Bali announcement (with video)*

Forestry Tasmania wins out over Bob Brown in EPBC Act appeal * Japan likely to be a key carbon investor – and sayonara to Australia's lower carbon prices? * UNFCCC chief – what Bali must deliver * Victoria's environment minister says number of environmental licences will plummet * Down and dirty – when will soil carbon count? * Australia's geothermal sector plans projects worth almost $1 billion (with audio) * Queensland wind assets sold for $460 million * NZ to calculate primary industry carbon footprints * 'U.S. in denial on climate solution not climate science' * NT Chief Minister takes climate change post *