News

Emissions trading scheme may force businesses offshore: BCA

The Federal Government’s proposed design for a national emissions trading scheme may force emissions-intensive, trade-exposed (EITE) businesses to reduce their operations or move offshore, according to the Business Council of Australia.

A paper released by the BCA has found that the compensation for many EITE businesses outlined in the Federal Government’s Green Paper for its proposed Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme is not sufficient to prevent the businesses either reducing their operations or moving them offshore in the absence of a global price on carbon.

The BCA’s ‘Modelling Success: Designing an ETS that Works’ paper examines the impacts of the Federal Government’s proposed emissions trading scheme on 14 businesses across a range of sectors including minerals processing, manufacturing, oil refining, coal mining and sugar milling.

The paper recommends that Australia’s emissions trading scheme should include compensation for EITE industries until there is a global emissions reduction agreement.

In addition, the paper states that if compensation was not provided to EITE industries, the environmental objectives of the scheme would be compromised, as the nation’s emissions targets in would be met by exporting the emissions to other countries that do not yet operate such a scheme.

The paper is available here.

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National geothermal energy grant program launched

A $50 million program that is designed to assist the development of geothermal energy projects across Australia has been launched by the Federal Government.

The ‘Geothermal Drilling Program’, which aims to accelerate the development of the geothermal industry, will provide grants of up to $7 million on a dollar-for-dollar funding basis

Funding under the program will be provided to support the high cost of drilling deep geothermal wells and help finance proof-of-concept projects.

Federal Minister for Resources and Energy, Martin Ferguson, says Australia's first commercially viable geothermal power plants could now be in place within four to five years.

The allocation of grants under the Geothermal Drilling Program will be decided on competitive and merit-based criteria. Expressions of interest for funding from the program are due by 5pm, September 29.

To view the program's funding guidelines and for information about how to submit and expression of interest for funding, visit here.

The Geothermal Drilling Program is the first program to be launched under the Federal Government's $500 million Renewable Energy Fund announced in the 2008 budget.

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Strategy to reduce vehicle and fuel emissions released

The New South Wales Government has released a new strategy that aims to cut the greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution caused by motor vehicles and fuels.

The ‘NSW Cleaner Vehicles and Fuels Strategy’ sets out a list of actions that can be implemented by both governments and private entities in order to reduce the environmental impact of their vehicle and fuel use.

Initiatives outlined as part of the strategy include:

• Working with the Federal Government to develop a national environmental rating scheme for heavy vehicles;
• The continuation of the NSW FleetWise Partnership, a voluntary program between the state’s Department of Environment and Climate Change and operators of private sector and local government vehicle fleets. The program includes encouraging passenger fleet operators to become more sustainable and a project to identify opportunities for heavy vehicle fleets to become more sustainable and develop a model for sustainable heavy vehicle fleets;
• The State Government encouraging the use of fuels that reduce greenhouse gases and noxious gases. This includes the present requirement that NSW Government vehicles are to use alternative fuels such as liquid petroleum gas (LPG), compressed natural gas (CNG), ethanol–petrol blend and biodiesel, where this is practicable and cost effective; and the recent introduction of a mandate requiring petrol wholesalers to ensure ethanol comprises 2% of the total volume of petrol they sell in NSW;
• The implementation of a community awareness and behaviour change education to improve community knowledge of the environmental and health impacts of air pollution. The program would promote measures such as fuel efficiency, buying cleaner vehicles and non-polluting transport options including walking and cycling; and
• The expansion of a program to retrofit diesel vehicles to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and harmful diesel particle emissions

To view the NSW Cleaner Vehicles and Fuels Strategy, visit here.

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City of Sydney achieves carbon neutral status

The City of Sydney claims it has become the first government in Australia to become a carbon neutral organisation.

The council's carbon neutral status has been achieved through a combination of initiatives, including purchasing 100% renewable energy for the 2007-2008 financial year at a cost of about $2.5 million.

City of Sydney CEO, Monica Barone, says the council has become the first carbon neutral government in Australia.

According to Ms Barone, the council has achieved carbon neutral status by eliminating unnecessary energy use, improving its energy efficiency, using accredited renewable energy and offsetting unavoidable carbon emissions.

As part of the process of becoming carbon neutral, the council undertook an independent assessment of its carbon emissions. The assessment found that 72% of the council’s carbon emissions were produced through electricity used to power council buildings and street lights.

The purchase of 100% accredited GreenPower by the council means that its electricity usage no longer contributes to the organisation’s greenhouse gas emissions.

To counter any carbon emissions that could not be eliminated through becoming more energy efficient and using GreenPower, Sydney has purchased carbon offsets generated from a landfill gas flaring project in New South Wales.

For 2007-2008, the council spent $56,000 to purchase carbon offsets for the equivalent of 5983 tonnes of carbon emissions.

The City of Sydney is presently developing a five-year carbon strategy that aims to ensure the city remains carbon neutral in its operations. For more information about the City of Sydney’s work to become carbon neutral, visit here.

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Scientists warn more marine parks needed to protect reefs from climate change

A group of researchers have called for the establishment of new, strategically located “no-take” fishing areas in order to protect the world’s coral reefs from the worst impacts of climate change.

In research published in the journal PLoS ONE, the scientists warn that many existing “no take areas” in the Indian Ocean and around the world, while effective in protecting local fish, may not be much help in enabling reefs to recover from major coral bleaching events caused by ocean warming.

The researchers say the locations and small sizes of many of the world’s existing “no-take” fishing zones will not protect coral reefs from the worst impacts of climate change, according to an international team of scientists.

The research team - which includes Nick Graham and Dr Shaun Wilson of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, Australia, and colleagues from Newcastle University and the Wildlife Conservation Society – conducted the largest study of its kind to date, covering 66 sites in seven countries in the Indian Ocean and spanning about a decade.

According to the researchers, many of the no-take areas were established in the late 1960s and early 1970s with the aim of protecting fish populations, before climate change and its impact on corals became a major issue.

The researchers say several of the no-take areas are small, and are surrounded by areas of sea which are heavily fished or otherwise exploited.

While the researchers say the existing zones should remain in place, they says that new areas are needed in the right places to enable corals to recover from the mass die-offs caused by rising temperatures.

The researchers have investigated the long-term impact of a major coral die-off across the Indian Ocean caused by warmer waters in 1998. As part of the research, they have tracked declines in coral cover, reef structural complexity, fish species richness and the abundance of various feeding and size groups of reef fish across the Indian Ocean.

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Conferences & Events

Carbon Market Expo Australasia 2008

Carbon Market Expo Australasia 2008
30-31 October, 2008
Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre

www.carbonexpo.com.au

Recently announced Diamond Sponsors of Carbon Market Expo Australasia 2008, nabCapital, Barclays Capital and Baker & McKenzie bring international significance to this inaugural event. The Workshop Series Sponsors are Parsons Brinckerhoff and Bond University. 

Carbon Market Expo Australasia 2008 is the first industry-hosted carbon trade fair and conference in Australia and will bring together carbon market product and service providers and their customers.

The event will be hosted by Environment Business Australia and the Asia-Pacific Emissions Trading Forum with the Queensland Government and Gold Coast City Council.

Carbon Market Expo Australasia 2008 will feature a high-level conference, major trade fair and in-depth technical workshops that draw on the skills and knowledge of experts actively participating in carbon markets. The trade fair will for the first time showcase carbon market products and services from across Australia and the Asia-Pacific.

Confirmed speakers and panellists include:

• The Federal Minister for Climate Change and Water Senator the Hon. Penny Wong
• The Hon Andrew McNamara MP, Minister for Sustainability, Climate Change and Innovation
• Roger Beale AO Senior Associate, Allen Consulting Group
• Roger Wilkins AO, Head of Government & Public Sector Group, Citigroup
• Martijn Wilder, Partner, Baker & McKenzie
• Paul Ezekiel, Managing Director Carbon Trading, Credit Suisse; and
• Mr Ken Newcombe, Managing Director Fixed Income, Currency and Commodities, Goldman Sachs

To attend or exhibit, register online at www.carbonexpo.com.au

For further information please contact: Liz Symmons
AST Management
Tel (07) 5528 2501
Email: liz.symmons@astmanagement.com.au

For full details visit www.carbonexpo.com.au

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NSW Resource Recovery for Climate Recovery Conference 2008

Resource Recovery for Climate Recovery

REGISTER NOW

This conference will focus on the interaction between resource recovery and climate change. At a global level, policy and regulatory response to the threats associated with climate change has been described as "the biggest market failure the world has ever seen". Whilst the NSW government was one of the first in the world to introduce a regulatory carbon market promoting climate recovery, the focus has been on the electricity sector. Significant challenges remain for the waste recovery sector to ensure that it too can tap into larger emerging carbon markets, including the imminent Australian Emissions Trading Scheme.

Pre-conference tours will enable delegates to see first-hand some of the world's leading waste recovery projects located within the Sydney metropolitan basin and which contribute to Australia's greenhouse gas abatement.

Register now for your chance to hear leading speakers on what current and future trends on climate change policy and regulatory will mean to waste recovery professionals.

With the conference situated at Sydney's Luna Park, right on Sydney Harbour, the venue is a fantastic place for networking and the gala dinner is set to live up to past years memorable expectations!

Visitors to the Trade Exhibition are welcome free of charge at any time.

To view the Conference Program and for more information visit: www.nswwwasteconference.com.au
or call the Waste Management Association of Australia on 1300 651 026

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Carbon Finance World 2008 Conference

If you are contemplating which carbon finance event to attend in 2008 look no further...

"The time for playing short term political games is over, we must act on climate change" -Hon Penny Wong, Minister for Climate Change and Water

Attend the only event that features practical domestic and international case studies that will help guide Australian companies looking to identify risks and opportunities associated with Emissions Trading Scheme compliance.

With the recent ratification of the Kyoto Protocol and the impending introduction of emissions trading in Australia by 2010, it presents a new and significant financial and strategic burden for energy intensive Australian businesses. Never before has carbon accounting, reporting and auditing systems been such a critical component in effectively managing carbon emissions footprint and ensuring full ETS compliance. Australian businesses are crying out for guidance on the best practice design and cost effective implementation of these systems.

Carbon Finance World 2008 will help you quantify the financial and reporting impact of the emissions trading scheme on your business and future proof your accounting, reporting, auditing and risk management systems.

Key issues that will be addressed:
• Overcoming challenges in carbon accounting and reporting with practical end user applications
• The importance of carbon risk management
• Local options available to your business for carbon sequestration
• International influence and experience of the Emissions Trading Scheme
• Benefiting from the carbon trading systems and portfolio management

Reserve your place now at this exclusive Summit by calling 02 9021 8808, emailing us at cs.au@terrapinn.com or visiting our website www.terrapinn.com/2008/carbon_au and quote CO2 News

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Award-winning local government sustainable development projects in spotlight

Kogarah Council has pioneered Australia’s first local government sewer mining project to reduce the use of potable water and source an alternative supply of irrigation water.

The award-winning Beverley Water Reclamation Scheme has ensured all of Kogarah Council’s irrigation needs are met by efficient use of recycled water, replacing up to 140 ml/year of drinking water currently being used for irrigation.

The Scheme has also reduced the consumption of drinking water from Sydney’s dams by as much as 750 kilolitres per day in summer.

The Scheme, which won the Operations/Management Projects category of the 2008 International Water Association’s Project Innovation Awards, is just one of many award-winning case studies which will be featured at the Local Government Sustainable Development Conference 2008.

Other award-winning case studies to feature at the Conference include:
- City of Melbourne, Managing Drought in the City of Parks project (Local Government Award Winner, Banksia Awards 2008).
- Melton Shire Council (Winner of 2007 Sustainable Cities Award).
- Ipswich Council (Winner of environmental management category of the 2008 United Nations Association of Australia World Environment Day Awards). 

20 other leading-edge local government case studies will also be presented at the conference.

Over 30 speakers from local government, industry associations and research institutes will speak at the conference about addressing challenges of sustainability and the ways in which local governments from around Australia can achieve their sustainable development objectives in a cost-effective manner.

The Conference is being held on September 10th and 11th at Dockside Convention Centre in Sydney.

The conference agenda is available here or contact Denise McQueen on (03) 8534 5021 or denise.mcqueen@halledit.com.au

For further information about the Local Leadership in Sustainability awards, go to www.environs.org.au

Platinum Sponsor:

Gold Sponsors:

Silver Sponsors:

Networking Drinks Sponsor:

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