The final report from the Visions and Pathways 2040 research project looks at how we can rapidly reduce Australian cities' emissions to avoid catastrophic climate change as we approach the end of what's being called the 'critical decade'. [ + ]

When an environmental incident occurs, acting quickly and effectively is the aim of every regulatory agency and industry involved. In many cases, however, achieving the goal of speed and effectiveness can be difficult. [ + ]

Only 5% of used tyres are recycled locally in Australia, but researchers from the University of Melbourne have teamed up with Tyre Stewardship Australia and Merlin Site Services to come up with an innovative way to re-use the rubber. [ + ]

A new report has found that soil retains water better if practices that increase levels of soil carbon are used in farming. [ + ]

Sustainability Matters asked AECOM's Water Resource Practice leader, Melanie Collett, about future urban water security challenges from a local perspective. [ + ]

The old adage that you can't manage what you can't measure is nowhere more apt than in data centre energy consumption. [ + ]

The ABC's Four Corners program has revealed that firefighting foam containing perfluorinated chemicals known as PFAS was used at Australian Department of Defence bases until as recently as 2012, resulting in severe groundwater contamination at 18 bases across Australia. [ + ]

Using smart-water technologies can not only help organisations understand their customers but it can also help them create efficiencies, improve longevity of assets and predict future trends. [ + ]

Traditionally, the recycling industry has always looked at the three Rs — reduce, re-use, recycle. But Professor Veena Sahajwalla from the Centre for Sustainable Materials Research and Technology (SMaRT) is challenging this thinking with her 'new science of green manufacturing' that looks at the fourth R — reform. [ + ]

Renewable energy subsidies continue to be a hot topic of debate in Australia. Smart Commercial Solar's Huon Hoogesteger believes serious conversations within the industry need to happen to discuss how best to steer the country in the right direction. [ + ]

Frazer-Nash Consultancy's Anthony Kwong describes how modelling and analysis helped sustainable agriculture company Sundrop Farms to justify its investment in energy-storage equipment. [ + ]

Office and retail refurbishment generates over 55,000 t of waste every year in the Sydney CBD alone at an average rate of 63 t/1000m². [ + ]

The race is on for storage solutions that can help provide secure, reliable electricity supply as more renewables enter Australia's electricity grid. [ + ]

Each year Sydney Water re-uses 100% of biosolids produced — about 180,000 tonnes. [ + ]

Wastewater discharge non-compliance can be costly. Bruce Willis of Hydroflux discusses what can be done to minimise this risk. [ + ]