In the first case to test the exemption from boycotts laws for actions aimed at environmental protection, the Federal Court has found an animal rights activist didn't breach the Trade Practices Act when he deliberately sabotaged an export shipment of live sheep.
It would be "impractical" to use legislation to deal with illegal logging, says federal forestry minister Eric Abetz in the foreword of a long-awaited Australian government policy to eliminate trade in illegally sourced forest products.
South East Queensland Councils will conduct random audits of up to 15% of the region’s largest water users under proposed ‘level 6’ water restrictions that will enter into force in mid-November.
Despite chronic staff shortages triggered by the state’s resource boom, the WA Department of Environment and Conservation conducted more site inspections in 2006-07 than in the previous two years, new figures show.
Queensland court fines two for obstructing EPA officer; Export of nuclear waste gets EPBC Act clearance; NSW’s 2% ethanol obligation kicks in; Iluka Resources wins appeal against WA EPA ruling; Victorian Water Smart funding on offer; Victoria invites award nominations
The WA EPA has conditionally cleared Hamersley Iron’s proposal to boost iron ore shipments through Dampier port, saying a huge increase in dust emissions will affect an industrial precinct and not the town.
If global greenhouse gas emissions continue to grow quickly, average temperatures in Australia by 2070 are likely to be 2.2°C-5.0°C above 1990 levels, says a report released today by CSIRO and the Bureau of Meteorology. But if the world adopts a low emissions pathway, the rise could be limited to 1.0°C-2.5°C.
Australia’s greenhouse emissions could be cut to 23% below 2004 levels by 2050 by building 11 nuclear power plants, through energy efficiency measures and by massively boosting the use of renewables, government research agency ABARE says.
The Commonwealth Bank, Macquarie Bank and St George Bank are among a minority of Australia’s largest companies that refused to participate in this year’s international Carbon Disclosure Project, results released yesterday in New York show.
