Carbon Alert - August 2009
Information on this page
- Climate Change Policy and Legislation
- Carbon Management and Accounting
- International Climate Change News
- Energy, Technology and Renewables
Climate Change Policy and Legislation
Statement Regarding an Emissions Trading Scheme. Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull has released nine principles for a deal on emissions trading. (July 2009)
National Greenhouse Accounts (NGA) Factors. Recently updated by the Department of Climate Change, this document is for use by companies and individuals to estimate greenhouse gas emissions for reporting under various government programs. (June 2009)
National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Streamlining Protocol. Developed by the Council of Australian Governments (COAG), the protocol aims to help federal and state agencies make reporting requirements for their existing energy and greenhouse programs more consistent. (June 2009)
Streamlining Energy and Reporting. Fact Sheet. A fact sheet to accompany the above National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Streamlining Protocol. (June 2009)
Council of Australian Governments’ Meeting. Darwin, 2 July 2009. Communiqué. The COAG have adopted a 10-year strategy to accelerate energy efficiency improvements for householders and businesses. (July 2009)
Letter from Queensland Premier Anna Bligh to Assistant Climate Change Minister Greg Combet. A letter from the Queensland Premier asking the Federal Government to make changes to the CPRS, including assistance for the coal industry. (July 2009)
Carbon Management and Accounting
Safe Climate Australia. Nobel Prize winner and former U.S. Vice President Al Gore launched a project that aims to develop a program to transition Australia to a zero net emissions economy. (July 2009)
Carbon Reduction Label. Launched by Planet Ark and the Carbon Trust, Planet Ark is working with businesses wanting to undertake carbon footprinting and labeling of their products. The Carbon Reduction Label was developed by the Carbon Trust in the UK and Planet Ark are now bringing it to Australian products. (June 2009)
Climate Change 2009: Faster Change and More Serious Risks. A report published by the Department of Climate Change. (July 2009)
State of Denial. The Impact of the CPRS on State Government Budgets. A report from the Australia Institute. (June 2009)
Gearing Up: Business Readiness for Climate Change. A survey of just under 400 companies by the Australian Industry Group and KPMG has found more than 30% of businesses have no knowledge of key elements of the CPRS (July 2009)
Breaking the Climate Deadlock. Technology for a Low Carbon Future. A report launched by former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair suggests key roles for two international institutions founded by Australia – the Global Carbon Capture and Storage Institute and the Asia-Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate.
Breaking Through on Technology. Perspectives from Australia. The Climate Institute paper is a contribution to an international report (see article below) on overcoming barriers to the deployment of low-carbon technologies. (June 2009)
Breaking Through on Technology. Overcoming the Barriers to the Development and Wide Deployment of Low-Carbon Technology. The international report was prepared by the Global Climate Network, an alliance of climate experts that includes the Climate Institute. (July 2009)
International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). Australia has become a member IRENA which allows Australia to work with other countries to further the development and implementation of renewable energy technologies. (June 2009)
Australian Electricity Generation Report 2008. This report is part of The Climate Group’s Greenhouse Indicator Series, examining electricity generation and the associated greenhouse gas emissions in Australia’s four eastern states in 2008 and comparing them with the previous year. (July 2009)
Carbon Conscious and Origin Agree Large Scale Carbon Forest Sink Deal. Carbon Conscious has announced an agreement with Origin Energy to plant millions of Mallee Eucalypts trees in the wheatbelt regions of Australia in order to remove millions of tonnes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, and to produce Carbon Permits tradable under the CPRS. (July 2009)
Community Climate Change Action Plan. Launched by Darebin Council in Melbourne, the council is adopting an Action Plan to put in place a range of programs and services to support the community to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to zero net emissions by 2020. (June 2009)
Zero Emission Neighbourhoods (ZEN). The Victorian Government has launched a $6 million initiative to assist developers, councils and community groups develop projects that will help make new residential developments carbon neutral.
Smart Energy Zones. Environment and Climate Change Minister Gavin Jennings has announced the launch of Smart Energy Zones, a new $2.57 million state government program which will provide community facilities across Melbourne with funding to create and share their own electricity. (July 2009)
Members Equity Group Sustainability Covenant. EPA Victoria and Members Equity Group (ME) have signed a Sustainability Covenant. The covenant will allow ME Group to reduce their carbon impact through a number of initiatives. (June 2009)
International Climate Change News
Declaration of the Leaders, the Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate. In their concluding joint declaration, leaders of member nations of the Major Economies Forum (MEF) “recognise the scientific view that the increase in global average temperature above pre-industrial levels ought not to exceed 2°C”.
Low Carbon Transition Plan: Statement to the House of Commons. On 15 July, Ed Miliband made a statement to the House of Commons regarding the Low Carbon Transition Plan. (July 2009)
G8 Climate Scorecards 2009. An analysis, commissioned by insurer Allianz and WWF International, of climate policy performance by G8 countries. (July 2009)
Economic Crisis Hits EU and US Clean Energy As Emerging Economy Investments Rise 27% to $36 billion. According to figures released by the United Nations, for the first time annual renewable investment was higher than in fossil fuels. (June 1990)
Energy, Technology and Renewables
Solar Industry Snapshot. Clean Energy Council Data Series 2009. (July 2009)
Biofuels to the Fore in Fight to Reduce Emissions. Biofuels could be used to replace jet fuel in less than five years following recent tests by plane-maker Boeing. (June 2009)
Better Place. Better Place is building its first electric vehicle recharging network in Israel, with Denmark and Australia to follow.
