Research & development

Article (11)
  • Need to monitor fungicide risk
    Australia currently has no organised, long-term way of monitoring levels of commercial fungicides in soil and waterways, leading environmental scientists have cautioned.
  • Sustainability in telecommunications
    Bell Labs, the University of Melbourne and the Victorian Government opened the Centre for Energy Efficient Telecommunications (CEET) at the University of Melbourne on 28 March 2011.
  • Lungfish teeth could hold key to better cars, planes
    The tooth enamel of lungfish and garfish could provide the basis for new material to make lighter, more efficient aircraft or vehicles, says a Queensland University of Technology (QUT) physics researcher.
  • Major genome project heralds freedom from fossil fuel-based fertilisers
    The world is one step closer to being freed from a reliance on fossil fuel-based fertiliser with the announcement of a $10 million project underway at Murdoch University.
  • The biophilic city
    With increased threats from climate change, pollution and diminishing natural resources and biodiversity, it’s important to reconsider the way we live and the way we utilise our environments. Parson Brinckerhoff’s Director of Sustainability Darren Bilsborough* proposes the idea of a ‘biophilic city’ as one potential solution to these increasing pressures. He has developed a paper on an economic rationale supporting Biophilic Cities which is summarised in this article.
  • Fresh science
    Cling wrap that captures CO2 and a recycling technique for pig waste are two of the research discoveries in this year’s Fresh Science competition. The national competition identifies new and interesting research being done by early-career scientists from around the country and then helps them present their research to the public.
  • Cool roofs can offset carbon dioxide emissions
    Can light-coloured rooftops and roads really curb carbon emissions and combat global climate change? The idea has been around for years. A new study by researchers at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory - the first to use a global model to study the question - has found that implementing cool roofs and cool pavements in cities around the world can not only help cities stay cooler, they can also cool the world, with the potential of cancelling the heating effect of up to two years of worldwide carbon dioxide emissions.
  • Nitrogen management on the farm
    NIWA scientists put better nitrogen management on the farm to the test, assessing techniques for the mitigation of pastoral greenhouse gas emissions.
  • Global change: the need for bathtub thinking
    At present there is an immense research effort directed towards improving our understanding of the dynamics of the Earth system. Twenty-nine of the world’s leading Earth-system scientists have recently summarised the reasons why they are so worried about the future.
  • Green jobs in Australia: what are we talking about?
    Everyone is talking about ‘green jobs’, but just what do we mean by green jobs?
  • Letting the bugs out
    Farmers and growers around Australia are increasingly using bugs to reduce pest problems and increase efficiencies.
White Paper (1)
  • Sustainability ROI
    This Aberdeen report provides information to help you create a road map for matching environmental and social stewardship with improvements to your bottom line.
Feature (12)
  • Producing plastic without fossil fuels
    A team of South Korean scientists claim to have succeeded in producing the polymers used for everyday plastics through bioengineering, rather than through the use of fossil fuel-based chemicals. This research, which may now allow for the production of environmentally conscious plastics, is published in two papers in the journal Biotechnology and Bioengineering to mark the journal’s 50th anniversary.
  • Geoengineering no replacement for reducing greenhouse gas emissions
    The Royal Society of London has released a major report on geoengineering - "the deliberate and large-scale intervention in the Earth's climate system, in order to moderate global warming". In this article, The Royal Society of New Zealand provides commentary on the UK report, highlighting issues of particular relevance to New Zealand.
  • New Energy Pipeline Research Centre
    The Energy Pipelines Cooperative Research Centre is one of 10 new centres to be allocated funding in the latest round of the government’s Cooperative Research Centres (CRC) program. The Australian Pipeline Industry Association (APIA) has welcomed the announcement, by the Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research saying that it is encouraged that pipeline infrastructure is seen as a critical part of the nation’s battle to reduce carbon emissions.
  • Redefining sustainability
    The challenge for business now is to transcend compliance obligations and move towards truly sustainable operations, taking a holistic approach to environmental, social and economic values. This has become a key competitive issue and is increasingly likely to become a differentiator between those who succeed and those who do not.
  • Survey reveals increase in green consumer behaviour worldwide
    In their second annual survey to measure and monitor consumer behaviours that have an impact on the environment, the National Geographic Society and the international polling firm GlobeScan have found an increase in environmentally friendly consumer behaviour in 13 of the 14 countries that were surveyed in both 2008 and 2009. Consumers in India and Brazil are in the top index, US consumers rank last, while Australian consumers were among the best in the improvement category.
  • Bio-mimicry for a green economy
    The idea of mimicking desert plants and animals from around the world and tapping into their secrets to develop a green economy was presented at the Desert Knowledge Symposium in Alice Springs this month.
  • The building blocks towards a more sustainable future
    Launched in 2002, the Green Building Council of Australia is a national, not-for-profit organisation, which says it is committed to developing a more sustainable property industry in Australia through the adoption of green building practices. The council, headed up by some of the property sector's most respected identities, has the support of both the industry and government and has recently announced that it has over 600 members.
  • Going green makes good business sense
    The expression 'going green' might sound like a gimmick, but businesses across the globe are increasingly finding that it makes good commercial sense to adopt the use of green products and practices in the workplace
  • Business as usual for Lend Lease
    Lend Lease is a leading retail and community residential property group integrated with strong investment management and construction management businesses around the globe. They are also one of the world's leading sustainable organisations
  • Economics and the environment
    A small audience of the general public listened to two of Australia's most prominent scientists discuss how the economic costs of trying to reach the 2050 carbon reduction targets of 60% would come at a very small cost to the wider community
  • The 2007 guide to carbon jargon
    In 2007, words such as greenhouse gas emissions, carbon footprint and emissions trading schemes have snuck into the mainstream vocabulary of everyday Australians. But many people are still not sure what these words actually mean
  • Aim of the Australian Climate Exchange
    ACX was officially born in December 2005 and has subsequently worked on frameworks and mechanisms to bring the suppliers and buyers of greenhouse gas (GHG) emission abatement together
Product (3)
  • Concept for dumper bodies
    SSAB has developed a new design for a free-hanging dumper body. The body can handle a higher load capacity, but weighs only half as much as its traditional counterpart.
  • Environmental impact calculator
    LCADesign is a real-time environmental impact calculator designed for commercial properties.
  • Carbon offset service
    Breathe Easy is a carbon emission offset service which is set to be launched in Australia by Greening Australia.
News (126)
  • Grant to improve crop production in Bangladesh and Indonesia
    Arcadia Biosciences has been awarded a five-year, $4.5 million grant from the US Agency for International Development (USAID) to develop salt-tolerant rice and measure greenhouse gas emissions from conventional rice fields in Bangladesh and nitrogen use efficient (NUE) crops in Indonesia.
  • Sustaining fisheries in Australia and India in the face of climate change
    Australian and Indian scientists, sociologists and economists are creating a strategic plan to ensure marine fisheries in both countries remain sustainable while facing climate change.
  • Eggs for ‘low carbon’ protein
    Australian Egg Corporation Limited (AECL) research suggests that egg production has the lowest carbon footprint of all the main protein foods.
  • Expedition raising awareness on climate change visits Cairns
    A 20-metre sailboat currently on a three-year maritime expedition from the North to the South Pole recently arrived in Australia to raise international awareness about the effects of climate change.
  • Green Star rating results in rent premiums
    A new study into the financial performance of green office buildings in Australia has found that Green Star-rated buildings deliver a 12% ‘green premium’ in value and a 5% premium in rent.
  • Improving wheat yields for global food security
    With the world’s population set to reach 8.9 billion by 2050, CSIRO scientists are hunting down and exploiting a number of wheat’s key genetic traits in a bid to substantially boost its grain yield.
  • Burning research needed
    How the frequency and intensity of wildfires and intentional biomass burning will change in a future climate requires closer scientific attention, according to CSIRO’s Dr Melita Keywood.
  • Australia not alone on climate change action
    The federal government has released new reports that show Australia is not acting alone or ahead of other countries when it comes to action on climate change.
  • CSIRO reports on cattle methane emissions
    Australia’s northern beef herd may be emitting up to 30% less methane than previously calculated.
  • High-temperature processing lab opens at Swinburne
    The Robert Simpson High Temperature Processing Laboratory has been opened in Swinburne University’s new Advanced Technologies Centre.
  • Panax announces Indonesian development project
    Panax Geothermal has signed an agreement with PT Bakrie Power to develop a geothermal project in East Java.
  • Ecoscientists precinct established in Queensland
    Solutions to Australia’s biggest environmental problems could be closer following the co-location of Queensland's best and brightest minds to a new ecosciences precinct at Brisbane’s Boggo Road.
  • Data shows drop in air pollutants
    National Pollutant Inventory (NPI) data has been released that shows emissions of a range of common air pollutants dropped slightly in 2009-10.
  • Climate change update in CSIRO book
    CSIRO has launched Climate Change: Science and Solutions for Australia to help inform business, government and the community about the many issues that need to be addressed in response to climate change.
  • National Centre for Nitrous Oxide Measurement opens at NZ university
    The National Centre for Nitrous Oxide Measurement at Lincoln University has been formally opened by the NZ Minister of Agriculture, the Hon David Carter. The centre provides a tripling in New Zealand’s capacity to measure nitrous oxide greenhouse gas emissions.
  • Environmental management salaries leap forward
    For the first time in five years, environmental salaries have overtaken that of safety professionals, survey results have revealed. The survey includes data from over 60 Australian companies, primarily from the ASX 200, and covers a diverse range of industries including energy, resources, construction, manufacturing, industrial and retail.
  • CO2-chomping microbes battling for ocean iron
    Australian, Belgian and New Zealand scientists have expanded our understanding of the way phytoplankton take up scarce iron in the ocean - a process that regulates ocean food chains from the bottom up and helps remove up to 40% of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere.
  • Contamination and clean-up research centre funding extended
    Australia has renewed its commitment to a clean environment and healthy, safe community by extending its national research effort into contamination and clean-up by a further nine years.
  • PMSEIC releases expert reports on food security and energy-water-carbon intersections
    The Prime Minister’s Science, Engineering and Innovation Council (PMSEIC) has released two expert scientific reports on serious issues facing the nation - Australia and Food Security in a Changing World and Challenges at Energy-Water-Carbon Intersections.
  • All independent MPs support boost for R&D
    More businesses will get more support for research and development under legislation passed by the House of Representatives.
  • Biodegradable bag made from CO2 emissions
    Melbourne packaging technology company Cardia Bioplastics Limited has developed a biodegradable plastic bag created from a blend of CO2 (carbon dioxide) emissions and starch.
  • GE and CSIRO agree to AU$20 million R&D collaboration
    GE and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) have announced a strategic alliance which will include a combined investment of AU$20m over five years in R&D projects in the areas of healthcare and cleaner technology for energy and aviation.
  • Green Buidings report
    Apart from reducing carbon emissions, green buildings can also play an important role in providing affordable housing, job creation and disaster recovery, according to a new report from the World Green Building Council (WorldGBC) launched 19 September at the start of World Green Building Week.
  • Kiwi wins top international science prize
    A New Zealand environmental scientist has won a top international science prize for her contribution to the development of a simple, inexpensive test which measures arsenic levels in drinking water, and which has the potential to improve the lives of millions of people worldwide.
  • Ecolabelling has appeal
    Sellers using ecolabels backed with the right information could make as many as 85% of New Zealanders more likely to buy a product.
  • Get the green facts on Australian red meat
    Meat and Livestock Australia has launched a new website on the red meat industry’s environmental impact. The website details the facts and figures across the key indicators of water, land, biodiversity and emissions for the red meat industry.
  • Climate change adaptation conference
    An international conference held in Australia to discuss the science and options for adapting to climate change begins on the Gold Coast on Tuesday 29 June.
  • Will the Southern Ocean's carbon sink hold its breath?
    Ice core records show there was a sharp rise in carbon dioxide in the atmosphere - a nearly 50% increase - at the end of the last ice age. Scientists have long puzzled over the origin of all the extra CO2 that appeared as the great ice sheets melted.
  • Green energy system could power home and car
    A wireless green energy system to supply the home and the car is being designed by University of Auckland engineering research fellow Duleepa Thrimawithana.
  • The Rosenfeld named after California’s godfather of energy efficiency
    Pioneering French physicists Marie and Pierre Curie have the curie, a unit of radioactivity, named after them. Renowned inventor Nikola Tesla is honoured with the tesla, which measures a magnetic field. And now, the Rosenfeld, proposed as a unit for electricity savings, will be named after the man seen by many people as the godfather of energy efficiency, Arthur Rosenfeld.
  • Emissions trading won't hurt small business
    The Rudd government’s proposed Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme would not significantly impact most Australian businesses, according to a research report released by the National Centre for Sustainability.
  • Steel credit revision to drive best practice steel production
    The Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) has released the draft of a revised Green Star Steel Credit which aims to drive best practice steel production and fabrication, and encourage dematerialisation of steel in structural applications in Australia.
  • Greening Australia's metal industry
    Leading scientists are gathering at Swinburne University of Technology this week to discuss ways to improve the sustainability of the metallurgical industry.
  • Capitalism in question
    The merits of capitalism and what form of economic governance is needed post crisis is at the centre of a review by a Griffith University sustainability expert.
  • Glaciologist responds to doubts over Himalayan melt
    The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is reexamining a report it issued that suggests Himalayan glaciers could vanish by 2035.
  • Water concerns still strong in cities
    A Newspoll conducted for the Smart Approved Water Mark has found more than 90% of respondents in the five capital cities surveyed still think the water situation is at least "somewhat serious".
  • Supercomputer launched at ANU
    The Commonwealth government is providing $26 million towards Australia’s newest research supercomputer, to be hosted at the Australian National University.
  • Plastic produced without the use of fossil fuels
    A team of South Korean scientists has succeeded in producing the polymers used for everyday plastics through bioengineering, rather than through the use of fossil fuel-based chemicals.
  • Human emissions rise 2% despite GFC
    Despite the economic effects of the global financial crisis (GFC), carbon dioxide emissions from human activities rose 2% in 2008 to an all-time high of 1.3 tonnes of carbon per capita per year, according to a paper published in Nature Geoscience.
  • Chemical-free cleaning technology study demonstrates environmental sustainability
    In an independent study conducted by the environmental sustainability group EcoForm, Tennant’s ec-H2O technology has been shown to significantly reduce environmental footprints when compared to traditional cleaning with chemicals.
  • Tax offset changes to boost R&D
    The Rudd government has taken a significant first step towards the biggest reform to business innovation support for more than a decade with the passing of the Tax Laws Amendment Bill (2009 Measures no 4).
  • Knowledge discovery for agriculture and NRM
    A national integrated online knowledge discovery tool for agriculture and natural resources in Australia has been launched.
  • NZ Clean energy centre to break ground in Taupo
    The New Zealand Clean Energy Centre (NZCEC), with funding from both the government and private sectors, has finalised architectural plans for its 800 m2 facility in Taupo and aims to begin construction this year.
  • Host named for new water recycling centre of excellence
    Western Corridor Recycled Water will receive $20 million over five years to host the National Centre of Excellence in Water Recycling in Brisbane.
  • Major boost for minerals, climate change, carbon storage and poultry
    Research into minerals exploration, climate change, greenhouse gas technologies and poultry has received a major funding boost of $96.1 million under the latest round of the Australian government’s Cooperative Research Centres (CRC) program.
  • Environmentally friendly biotech labs opened
    A new building featuring state-of-the-art, environmentally friendly biotechnology research laboratories has been opened in Canberra by the Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, Senator Kim Carr.
  • Permafrost melt poses major climate change threat
    New research shows that carbon stored in high-altitude frozen soils is double that of previous estimates.
  • Ancient eruptions warn of climate change and mass extinctions
    A Curtin University of Technology researcher has shown that some ancient periods of massive volcanic eruptions released greenhouse gases so quickly that they caused rapid climate change and mass extinctions.
  • Curtin sustainability institute to lead debate
    Curtin University of Technology has opened its multimillion-dollar Australian Sustainable Development Institute (ASDI), which combines the resources and brain power of 16 research centres.
  • Researchers in Business scheme in action
    A West Australian renewable energy company has become the first organisation to benefit from the Australian government's $10 million Researchers in Business program.
  • Construction industry receives funding boost
    A multipurpose enviro-friendly insulation batt made from recycled materials is among four ideas in the construction industry to each receive $64,000 in Australian government assistance to bring them to market.
  • Two new greenhouse gases growing
    Two new greenhouse gases are accumulating in the atmosphere, according to an international research team.
  • Primary industry adaptation research network approved
    The Adaptation Research Network for Primary Industries will help Australia’s primary industries meet the challenges and embrace the opportunities presented by climate change.
  • CleanFutures venture launched
    South Australia continues to be a focal point for expertise in clean and sustainable technologies with the launch of new venture CleanFutures.
  • Window to prompt passers-by to question water use
    The Swinburne Fish Tank encourages passers-by to question their own behaviour with regard to water use.
  • Calls for entries into the International Next Big Thing Award 2009
    Innovic’s International Next Big Thing Award 2009 has opened and for the first time is going global due to demand from Asia–Pacific innovators and small businesses.
  • Reinvigorated environmental focus for NSW councils
    Specialist training for NSW councils and Regional Organisations of Councils is being presented by the Urban Sustainbility Support Alliance (USSA). The training is designed to help councils make sustainability a key part of their planning and practices and ensure their community's ecological future.
  • Earth Hour 2009 to promote Australian green innovation internationally
    One billion people in more than 1000 cities are expected to participate in Earth Hour 2009, the Australian-originated campaign to raise climate change awareness.
  • House carbon calculator
    A careful choice of materials when building a house can make the difference of nearly 50 tonnes in CO2 emissions, according to a carbon calculator for houses.
  • President of Greening Australia appointed
    Environmentalist Rob Gell has been appointed to the role of national president of Greening Australia with the mandate to drive the organisation’s strategic response to rapid climate change.
  • Australian law firm launches sustainability report
    Henry Davis York, an Australian law firm, has compiled a sustainability report which is independently audited and Global Reporting Initiative compliant.
  • Reducing consumption key to a sustainable future
    Based on then ground-breaking modelling, the forecasts of global ecological and economic collapse by mid-century contained in the controversial 1972 book, The Limits to Growth, are still ‘on-track’ according to CSIRO research.
  • Super fund reports on investment’s carbon emissions
    Superannuation fund VicSuper has announced that its members will receive a carbon emission measurement calculated on each of its share of investments in publicly listed companies.  
  • Art focuses on climate change campaign
    International aid agency Oxfam is inviting Australians to create a piece of art that tells a story about the effect climate change is having on the developing world.
  • Permafrost carbon content double the old estimates
    The amount of frozen organic carbon locked away in the world’s permafrost regions is double what has been previously estimated, according to new research.
  • CSIRO chief executive appointed
    Dr Megan Clark has been apponted the next chief executive of the CSIRO.
  • Brisbane-based CSIRO research hub announced
    Research into climate change, water management and managing Australia's ecosystems are some of the CSIRO science to be conducted at the Ecosciences Precinct at Boggo Road Urban Village, Brisbane, due for completion in 2011.
  • Businesses to help consumers fight climate change
    Australian companies joined acting Prime Minister Julia Gillard to unveil ‘Together’, an Australian consumer engagement campaign on climate change that will make it easier for consumers to reduce their CO2 emissions.
  • Sydney to host world congress
    Mayors, senior government representatives, business leaders and industry experts from more than 100 of the world’s largest cities are due to arrive in Sydney in October for the 9th World Congress of Metropolis.
  • Climate change adaptation program launched
    CSIRO has launched a multimillion-dollar research program in Canberra which is designed to boost Australia's ability to adapt to the impacts of climate change.
  • Three new ways to access rainfall outlooks
    The Bureau of Meteorology has launched three additional 3-month rainfall outlook products. The products give new insights into the chance of rainfall for the coming season.
  • Biofuels deepen poverty and accelerate climate change
    The biofuel policies of developed countries like the US and the EU have dragged more than 30 million extra people into poverty, according to a report released by international aid agency Oxfam.
  • Voting open for Banksia's people's choice award
    Online voting for the Banksia People’s Choice Award is now open, as part of the annual Banksia Awards. The award is designed to give the Australian public a say on the environmental project they believe will make the most difference to their lives.
  • SA winemakers and grape growers go green
    Premier Mike Rann has announced an agreement that makes South Australian winemakers and grape growers the first industry group in the nation to accurately track and reduce greenhouse emissions.
  • Garrett opens climate law and policy centre
    A legal research centre devoted to climate change will be officially opened at The Australian National University by Environment Minister Peter Garrett. The ANU Centre for Climate Law and Policy (CCLP) has been established in response to a growing awareness of the legal dimensions of global warming.
  • Cleantechnology industry online portal launched
    To facilitate more efficient business, government and research interaction, an online industry portal that will define the 'cleantech' sector in Australia has been created. The portal depicts over 350 Australian companies with original products and services in the sector and it is anticipated that many more will be added over the next few months.
  • NZ firms join international climate neutral network
    New Zealand businesses are set to strengthen their presence and leadership on the United Nations' Climate Neutral Network — with 16 joining so far and others poised to sign up, Environment Minister Trevor Mallard said at a Wellington meeting of the international network.
  • Conference focuses on leading sustainable reform
    The PACIA National Conference is on in Melbourne 16–18 June at the Bayview on the Park. The theme of the conference is Leading sustainable reform — a climate for change.
  • Think tank and university form partnership
    The Institute of Public Affairs (IPA) has partnered up with the University of Queensland to support research into environmental issues.
  • Conference focuses on sustainability in building and design
    Developments in sustainable design will be the focus of RMIT University’s 6th annual Green Building & Design Conference, being held in Sydney 30 April – 1 May.
  • Line-up confirmed for international conference
    The World Cities Summit, an international conference on effective public governance and the sustainable development of cities, has confirmed a line-up of prominent speakers for its inaugural event in Singapore from 23–25 June 2008.
  • Sustainability research to be boosted by institute
    Research into sustainability will be boosted by the Curtin University Sustainability Policy (CUSP) Institute. Headed by sustainability expert Prof Peter Newman, the institute is a multidisciplinary research centre that undertakes research focused on sustainable cities and regions, and sustainable global development, politics, policy and economics.
  • Dangerous climate at peak science showcase
    Rising sea levels, drought and rainfall will all be experienced in Canberra in the first week of May when ‘Dangerous climate change’ is featured at the Academy of Science’s peak annual event, Science at the Shine Dome.
  • Young environmentalists recognised
    For the first time in 2008, Australia’s young environmentalists aged 15 to 25 can apply for the Environment Minister’s Young Environmentalist of the Year Award.
  • Online climate tools benefit farmers
    Two tools released as part of a Bureau of Meteorology project will make it possible for farmers to find out more about rainfall and climate.
  • Call for applications
    SAI Global Limited is inviting applications for the 20th Annual Australian Business Excellence Awards, as well as its Systems Excellence Awards.
  • Organic farmers have internal carbon advantage
    Biological Farmers of Australia, an Australian organic representative group, says certified organic farm systems have contributed to carbon storage through soil sequestration for years.
  • Eureka! CSIRO wins for climate change research
    Dr John Church of CSIRO has been awarded the 2007 University of New South Wales Eureka Prize for Scientific Research.
  • Human-generated aerosols affect weather
    The rise of human-generated pollution in the global atmosphere is forcing a change in ocean circulation in the Southern Hemisphere, in turn affecting the region’s weather systems.
  • Joint forces fund climate collaboration
    Two of New Zealand’s philanthropic organisations have joined forces to fund the creation of a foundation to stimulate practical solutions to the challenges of climate change.
  • Bank named as one of the top 100 most sustainable corporations in the world
    Westpac has been named for the third year in a row as one of The Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations in the World, announced at the recent World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
  • Canon calling for entries
    To celebrate World Environment Day, Canon New Zealand is calling for entries to the Canon Environmental Grant, a $15,000 product grant awarded on an annual basis to assist environmental projects.
  • Bank achieves top ranking in global climate change index
    Westpac has announced it is the only bank in the world, and one of just four companies in the Global FT500 list, to achieve a 100-point, AAA rating in the 2007 Climate Disclosure Leadership Index (CDLI).
  • Australians want climate change solutions at home
    A survey of more than 2000 households in Queensland, Victoria, NSW and South Australia has revealed that more than 75% of Australians want to reduce energy consumption in the home and implement a rapid response to climate change.
  • Climate change – now it’s law
    The nation’s first Climate Change legislation has become law. The Climate Change and Greenhouse Emissions Reduction Act 2007 makes South Australia the first place in Australia to legislate targets to reduce greenhouse emissions.
  • Cave stalagmites can help predict rainfall
    Research revealed at ANSTO’s first rainfall conference shows that cave stalagmites can be used to reconstruct past rainfall cycles and help predict future rainfall patterns.
  • Australians take up climate change challenge
    The Banksia Environmental Foundation has announced its Prime Minister’s Environmentalist of the Year finalists for the annual Banksia Awards 2007.
  • Australia steadies greenhouse emissions
    National Greenhouse Accounts released show that Australia has steadied emissions growth and is on track to meet its Kyoto target. The Minister for Environment and Water Resources, Malcolm Turnbull, said that the accounts showed that there had been no growth in emissions between 2004 and 2005.
  • CSIRO begins climate project with China
    CSIRO and the Australian Greenhouse Office (AGO) have signed a two-year funding agreement for collaboration between CSIRO statisticians and the Institute of Atmospheric Physics of the Chinese Academy of Science.
  • Australian companies high on ‘green’ but low on energy
    Australian companies like to espouse their green credentials, however 53.9% of businesses still do not have a formal energy policy, according to a whitepaper by Proudfoot Consulting.
  • Green achievers honoured at international award ceremony
    From protecting the biodiversity of Yemen’s islands to piloting climate-proofing strategies in Sudan and boosting conservation in Barbados, the 2008 Champions of the Earth are making their mark across the planet.
  • Property industry uses online social networking to go green
    Online social networking technology has been put to use by the commercial property sector, which has launched a $1.5 million online encyclopaedia and networking tool to help create green and profitable commercial buildings.
  • Sydney Entertainment Centre fights climate change
    Waste from the Sydney Entertainment Centre will get a new lease of life and reduce the centre’s impact on climate change.
  • Asia-Pacific facing the brunt of climate change
    Global warming is set to reverse decades of social and economic progress across Asia and the Pacific, home to more than four billion people or 60% of the world's population, according to a multi-agency report called Up in Smoke: Asia and the Pacific.
  • Farmers influence design of seasonal forecast products
    Farmers from across Australia have told the Bureau of Meteorology what they want from seasonal forecasts.
  • Carbon market in crisis
    It has emerged this week that the future of the NSW Greenhouse Gas Abatement Policy is on rocky ground.
  • World Environment Day guests confirmed
    NZ Environment Minister Trevor Mallard has announced that Dr Rajendra Pachauri (UN Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change Nobel Laureate), President Tong of Kiribati and Achim Steiner (United Nations Environment Programme executive director) will be coming to New Zealand to help celebrate the internationally recognised World Environment Day on 5 June.
  • A step forward for climate change research in NZ
    Motu Economic and Public Policy Research has been awarded close to $1.7 million of Foundation for Research, Science and Technology funding for nearly four years of research on the economics of climate change and its impact on New Zealand.
  • Student works to reduce impact of global warming
    Julianna Franco, CO2CRC PhD student at the University of Melbourne, will give a talk on her research to reduce the cost of capturing carbon dioxide (CO2) - the most common greenhouse gas - as part of the 2007 Cooperative Research Centres Association Conference's series of Early Career Scientists presentations.
  • A fresh FACE for climate research
    Scientists will have access to the latest in climate change technology to investigate future atmospheric conditions and their impact on plant crops, after the official opening in November of a $3.7 million climate change research facility in Horsham, Victoria.
  • Company recognised for climate change solution
    Alcoa has received The Clean Air Achievement Award from the WA branch of the Clean Air Society of Australia and New Zealand (CASANZ). The award was presented to the company for its Carbon capture technology that delivers greenhouse benefits by locking up CO2 that is otherwise released into the atmosphere.
  • Australian climate change program in classrooms
    The online Climate Change Education Program, made in Australia, is being piloted in Britain by the Gould Group and will be released in London at the Environmental Trade Show BETTS.
  • Business' brainstorm sustainability
    The realities and exciting opportunities around trading in a sustainable New Zealand were on the agenda as the government engaged with business and industry, according to Environment Minister David Benson-Pope.
  • Group formed to give advice on emissions trading
    Thirty-one leaders across business, agriculture and forestry, science and the environment, the union movement and non-government organisations have joined a group to advise the government on emissions trading and related issues.
  • National competition to help save the planet
    The Australian Women’s Weekly magazine has joined with the Australian Conservation Foundation and Visy Recycling to find — and encourage — young people to become environmental heroes by developing ideas and practical solutions for recycling waste; fighting climate change, reducing carbon emissions and saving our endangered wildlife.
  • Boost helps combat climate change
    Premier Morris Iemma announced the NSW government will invest $70 million on two programs to reduce water and energy consumption, and drive down greenhouse gas emissions.
  • Sea levels to rise several metres this century
    Australia’s sea levels will rise by several metres by the end of the century due to rapidly increasing greenhouse gas concentrations, according to research from a group of international scientists.
  • Insurer goes green
    The distinctive shade of AAMI red could soon take on a green hue as the insurer unveils its environmental management practices, in the company’s Corporate Transparency Report.
  • Study shows tropics absorbing northern emissions
    An international research team, including three CSIRO scientists, has thrown new light on the way that carbon dioxide produced by industrial activities in the Northern Hemisphere is absorbed by vegetation across the globe, particularly in tropical regions.
  • SKM helps guide local councils on climate change
    Sinclair Knight Merz (SKM) has provided local governments in Queensland with a practical guide for meeting the challenges of climate change.
  • 'Engine of the reef' revealed
    A team of coral researchers has taken a major stride towards revealing the workings of the 'engine' that drives Australia's Great Barrier Reef and corals the world over.
  • Climate change report puts Australia low on global list
    Australia has been given a low global ranking for environmental performance, mainly because of its assessment as a climate change laggard.
  • Anticipating climate change risks
    An Australian in-depth symposium ‘Anticipating climate change risks, costs and opportunities for infrastructure: A conference for asset owners and investors’ will be held at the University of Melbourne on 21 June 2007.
  • Economists help to improve global warming forecasts
    Climate scientists are collaborating with experts in economic theory to improve their forecasting models and assess more accurately the impact of rising atmospheric carbon dioxide levels.
  • Grants to further climate change and global warming knowledge
    Curtin University of Technology has been awarded three Australian Research Council (ARC) grants including a 2nd QEII Fellowship awarded to Prof Kliti Grice to study past and future climate change and understand the mechanisms of global warming.
  • Space mission: possible
    Our understanding of our planet's structure, climate and the impact of climate change through global warming is to be dramatically increased by a new space mission.
Case Study (3)
  • R&D Tax Concession assists tyre recycling company
    Melbourne-based company Tyre Crumb is recycling every component of tyres - the rubber, the steel and even the polyester fibre. All of these tyre elements are then crushed and used in everything from playground and sporting surfaces to carpet underlay and even shoe soles.
  • Wastewater algae to biocrude oil
    In November, the New Zealand Minister for Energy and Resources, Hon Gerry Brownlee, opened what is claimed to be the largest wastewater algae to biocrude oil demonstration project in the world.
  • Sustainability the key for new business park
    'Metroplex at Westgate' is a $1 billion business park project in Brisbane's western corridor, with a triple-bottom-line sustainability agenda
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