Browsing: Victoria

• Carbon footprint claims need more watchdog scrutiny
  
• Study to assess climate change effects on tourism
  
• Northern Territory to establish conservation and carbon fund

• EPA Victoria road tests new compliance tool
  
• Carr unveils Labor's clean manufacturing policy
  
• Abbott promises urban water conservation targets, new stormwater standard
  
• ASX queries Cougar Energy over test results
  
• Strategy aims to build confidence in next-generation lighting

A wide-ranging Victorian Climate Change Bill unveiled this morning that gives the EPA sweeping new powers and introduces soil carbon rights will put the State 'well ahead of the rest of Australia', Premier John Brumby has told Parliament.

Victoria's 'exceedingly ambitious' white paper recognises that owners of power stations must be compensated if they are forced to close early, but it's no substitute for a trading scheme and is silent on crucial issues, says Energy Supply Association of Australia CEO Brad Page.

Victoria will develop its own accreditation standard for carbon offsets and there are key differences between the State's proposal to buy abatement from the brown coal-fired power sector and the Coalition's 'direct action' plan, the State's Environment Minister Gavin Jennings tells CE Daily.

The Victorian Government will introduce a bill mandating that the State cut greenhouse gas emissions to 20% below 2000 levels by 2020, give its EPA new powers to regulate greenhouse gas emissions and create a green carbon offsets scheme, says its long-awaited climate change white paper.

• Federal maritime agency to review oil spill risks and response plan
  
• Victoria has 'useable' renewable resources to meet all its energy needs: report
  
• EPA Victoria seeks views on waste fund
  
• EPHC holds workshops on air quality standard

Victoria will aim to source 5% of its electricity from large-scale solar power plants by 2020 - a move that should result in the establishment of five to 10 large solar plants in regional areas, Premier John Brumby announced today.

• EPA Victoria seeks review of landfill 'cancer cluster' claims
  
• Population growth to drive 76% increase in water demand: report
  
• Multiple ways for 'precautionary principle' to be relevant: Supreme Court Judge
  
• Sugar and bioenergy plant makes EPBC Act referral
  
• NSW coal project to face independent review

Victorian Premier John Brumby will expand the State's energy efficiency target scheme, enabling small businesses to obtain discounts on energy-efficient goods and services that are currently only available to households. The Government also plans to release its climate change white paper later this month.