Farming and the digital world may seem like strange bedfellows, but a new CSIRO report has shown that Australian farmers can increase their productivity by taking advantage of smart farming technologies enabled by next-generation broadband networks. [ + ]

The Australian Business Roundtable for Disaster Resilience & Safer Communities has released a white paper that details a sustainable and comprehensive approach to managing natural disasters. [ + ]

The World Green Building Council (WorldGBC) is accepting nominations for the global Government Leadership Awards - a biennial event which was first held in 2011. [ + ]

The Australian Government’s Energy Efficiency Opportunities (EEO) program, which encourages large energy-using businesses to increase their efficiency, is being broadened to incorporate new developments and major expansions, saving business millions of dollars in energy costs across the lifetime of new projects. [ + ]

China launched its first carbon emissions trading scheme yesterday in Shenzhen. By 2015, the scheme aims to reduce the city’s carbon emissions per unit of GDP by 21% compared to 2010 levels. [ + ]

An ultra-modern bus service, featuring noiseless, emissions-free electric buses and indoor bus stops, will become a reality in the Swedish city of Gothenburg in 2015. [ + ]

The Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities today released ‘A study into commercial and industrial (C&I) waste and recycling in Australia by industry division’. [ + ]

UNSW solar car racing team ‘Sunswift’ is working hard to build a solar car which is friendly not only to the environment but also to the driver. [ + ]

Unitywater and the University of the Sunshine Coast (USC) today signed an agreement to work together to benefit USC’s students by supporting their tertiary education and providing local opportunities to kickstart their careers. [ + ]

Origin Energy has announced the release of the Origin Energy Monitor - a smartphone-sized device that sits magnetically on a person’s fridge and receives data wirelessly from their smart meter, displaying near real-time information about their energy use within seconds. [ + ]

Victoria’s Melton Library and Learning Hub - officially opened on 15 June - has been awarded a 5 Star Green Star - Public Building Design PILOT rating from the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA). This makes it Australia’s first completed Green Star library. [ + ]

Resources and Energy Minister Gary Gray recently unveiled the first ‘green crude’, sustainably produced by Muradel from marine microalgae at a pilot scale. [ + ]

Environmental trader Greenbank Environmental has announced the first successful trade of Australian carbon credit units (ACCUs) created by a piggery under the Carbon Farming Initiative (CFI). [ + ]

A number of Victorian organisations were today recognised for their participation in the fluoro-light recycling program FluoroCycle, which ensures harmful mercury is kept out of the environment. [ + ]

The organising committee for the Bioenergy Australia 2013 Conference invites interested parties to submit abstracts for presentation at this year’s conference. [ + ]