Carbon Alert - July 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
Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme
Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (Household Assistance) Bill. The federal government tabled another piece of CPRS legislation, relating to assistance for low and middle-income households for the expected increases in the cost of living arising from the introduction of the CPRS.
Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (Household Assistance) Bill. Explanatory Memorandum.
Draft Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme Regulations (2009). Climate Change Minister Penny Wong has released draft regulations prescribing the process for issuing free permits to emissions-intensive industrial activities and defining permit allocations for eight of these activities. (June 2009)
Economics Legislation Committee. Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme Bill 2009 and Related Bills (Provisions). The Senate economics committee report on the CPRS bills has been released. (June 2009)
Effects of the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme on the Economic Value of Farm Production. An ABARE analysis looking at the impact of the CPRS on the value of farm production. (June 2009)
Securing SMEs in Australia’s Low Carbon Future: The Cost of the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme for Australia’s Small and Medium Sized Businesses. A study done for the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. (June 2009)
Council for the Australian Federation Secretariat. The Council have released three reports investigating the potential impact on States and Territories of the Commonwealth Government's proposed CPRS. (May 2009)
Report 1: Impact of CPRS – Fiscal Report
Report 2: Impacts on Disadvantaged Regions
Report 3: State and Regional Economic Futures Report
Renewable Energy Target
Draft Renewable Energy Target Legislation. Environment Minister Peter Garrett and Climate Change Minister Penny Wong have released exposure draft legislation for the expanded Renewable Energy Target (RET) scheme. (June 2009)
Draft Renewable Energy (Electricity) Amendment Bill 2009 (and Associated Commentary).
Draft Renewable Energy (Electricity) (Charge) Amendment Bill 2009 (and Explanatory Memorandum)
GreenPower Factsheet. To recognise individual action in purchasing more GreenPower, the Government will take additional GreenPower purchases above 2009 levels into account in setting Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme caps.
Other
Senate Select Committee on Climate Policy. The Senate report inquiring into policies relating to climate change has been made available. (June 2009)
Plan B: An Agenda for Immediate Climate Action. Eleven environmental groups, including Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth, the Wilderness Society and state conservation councils, have issued a list of Plan B measures that they say could deliver deeper cuts than the CPRS being proposed by the Federal Government.
Local Governments and the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting (NGER) Act. An ICLEI Oceania briefing paper on local governments’ obligations to report their greenhouse gas emissions under the national emissions reporting scheme. (May 2009)
Carbon Management and Accounting
Carbon Offset Guide. EPA Victoria and Global Sustainability have released a revised version of their Carbon Offset Guide, with 72 providers now listed. The online guide is a resource for businesses, government agencies, NGOs and individuals seeking information about offsets. (June 2009)
National Greenhouse Gas Inventory. The latest National Greenhouse Accounts have been released, comprising of four annual reports (May 2009):
National Greenhouse Gas Inventory. Accounting for the Kyoto Target (May 2009)
National Inventory by Economic Sector 2007
State and Territory Greenhouse Gas Inventories 2007
National Inventory Report. Submitted to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
Climate Change. Adaptation Actions for Local Government. A report by the Department of Climate Change identifying climate change adaptation actions that are applicable to Australia's climatic conditions and climate impact risks as currently predicted and that can be implemented by Australian local governments.
Future Farming: How will Climate Change Impact Market Requirements for Victoria's Agrifood Exports? The Department of Primary Industries (DPI) has released a report.
St James Ethics Centre's Corporate Responsibility Index 2008. The report claims that companies say they're committed to improving their performance on environment, climate change and waste management but few can show practical improvements. (May 2009)
The Natural Fix. The Role of Ecosystems in Climate Mitigation. A report by the UN Environment Programme.
Deal Signed on Landmark Environment Programme for Mexico. An Australian-based energy efficiency company will generate international carbon credits by giving away and installing 30 million compact fluorescent lights across Mexico, under a landmark deal brokered by the Australian arm of TFS Green.
Climate Change Response Research Survey. The National Centre for Sustainability (Swinburne University) has launched a national online survey to help gather data to map the responses and readiness of different industries to operate and adapt to a low carbon future.
International Climate Change News
Post-2012 Global Agreement. The Rudd Government's proposed text, released by the UN climate secretariat, for a post-2012 global agreement proposes stabilising greenhouse gases at 450 parts per million "or lower" – a goal that could result in Australia cutting emissions by 25% by 2020.
Climate Funds Update. An independent website that provides information on the growing number of international funding initiatives designed to help developing countries address the challenges of climate change.
The Competitive Impacts of Climate Change Mitigation Policies. A study from the Pew Center suggests the feared economic toll in American jobs because of a greenhouse gas cap-and-trade system may be light. (May 2009)
State and Trends of the Carbon Market 2009. The global market for carbon emissions trading doubled in value last year, despite the global economic slow down in the second half of 2008, but actual realised emissions cuts fell, according to the World Bank. (May 2009)
Energy, Technology and Renewables
The Net Employment Impacts of Climate Change Policies. Clean energy and energy efficiency industries will create more than 28,000 new jobs by 2020, according to economic modelling released by the Clean Energy Council. (June 2009)
Power to Change: Australia’s Geothermal Future. Installing 2,200MW of geothermal energy by 2020 could create 3,800 new jobs, says a joint report by WWF Australia and the Australian Geothermal Energy Association.
Power to Change: Australia’s Wave Energy Future. Generating 1,500MW of electricity from wave power by 2020 would create about 3,200 jobs and create enough power for 1.2 million households, says a report released by WWF and Carnegie Corporation.
