Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and state and territory leaders will finalise a comprehensive climate framework in October, yesterday's COAG meeting agreed.
COAG also set out a timetable for reform of environmental approval and assessment processes, endorsed a memorandum of understanding on Murray-Darling Basin management as a precursor to an intergovernmental agreement and agreed to look for ways to ease the regulatory burden on oil and gas exploration and production companies.
Victoria’s efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the government fleet are being hampered by the reluctance of top public servants to wean themselves off six cylinder cars, according to the state’s Commissioner for Environmental Sustainability.
Commissioner Ian McPhail also calls for tougher environmental criteria in government tender processes and says there has been little progress in embedding environmental considerations into policy making, with only 7% of agencies having reformed their policy development processes.
Sydney Water's operating plan for desal plant revealed * Two parliamentary reports throw cold water on mandatory ethanol target * NZ industry coalition urges emissions trading delinking mechanism * Victoria offers demonstration project grants to major water users * G7 considers clean technology fund * 'Six sins of greenwashing'
From Queensland to Aceh – 'avoided deforestation' project gets certification * Carbon Disclosure Project expands to cover ASX200 * Auditor General says there is 'little evidence' to prove key land programs are delivering
* Victorian minister quizzed on hazardous waste landfill * National Water Commission calls for coordinated approach to water capture