Browsing: <a href="/tag/wa">WA</a> <i class="grey">•</i> <a href="/tag/carbon-law-policy-nger">Carbon law, policy/NGER</a>

Western Australia's environmental regulator isn't requiring Woodside to offset any Pluto LNG greenhouse gas emissions, even though the company is subject to an offset obligation.

Rio Tinto is arguing that caps on greenhouse gas emissions should be removed from the conditions imposed on one of its mines.

In a year of huge regulatory change for environmental managers, the Federal Government has started the process of handing core environmental responsibilities to states and abolishing carbon charges for large emitters, while all governments began targeting 'green tape'.

Woodside is seeking EPBC approval for three floating LNG platforms that will emit 8.7 million tonnes of CO2 annually.

In choosing not to have a minister with a title that includes the phrase 'climate change', Prime Minister-elect Tony Abbott has plenty of precedent.

The Carbon Farming Initiative rewards companies for abatement actions that go beyond what's required, but that hasn't stopped Woodside gaining approval to create credits worth millions from activities linked to an offset obligation imposed by the WA EPA.

Federal, state and territory ministers have recommended against establishing a permanent COAG body to deal specifically with climate change.

The WA EPA today recommended retaining some state greenhouse gas conditions applying to Chevron's Wheatstone LNG project, including reporting obligations, partly on the basis that the public should have more information on emissions than is available through NGERs.

Armed with the findings from an economics consultancy, the WA EPA will shortly advise the State Government on whether greenhouse gas conditions imposed on Chevron's Wheatstone LNG project are complementary to a carbon price, EPA chair Paul Vogel has told CE Daily.

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