The Siemens Stiftung (foundation) has launched a worldwide competition aimed at identifying and granting better access to appropriate technological solutions as one of the key levers for sustainable development. The ‘empowering people. Award’ was announced at the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, Rio+20. [ + ]

A University of Wollongong (UOW) invention will help governments around the world measure greenhouse gases following the university’s decision to commercialise its greenhouse gas analyser - the Spectronus - in partnership with Australian environmental monitoring solutions manufacturer Ecotech. [ + ]

Businesses that try to price gouge - or improperly inflate prices - following the introduction of the carbon price in July could be opening the door to a new wave of consumer class actions. [ + ]

A new agricultural accolade will be named in honour of former Prime Minister and Landcare advocate Bob Hawke. [ + ]

The seemingly impossible dream of producing steel with the help of recycled materials such as old rubber tyres and plastics is now a reality thanks to close researcher-industry collaboration. [ + ]

Modelling from carbon analytics firm RepuTex indicates investment in new mines will continue to drive production for the best part of the next decade, with output and resultant carbon emissions forecast to rise to record levels. [ + ]

On 21 June, Stephen Mitchell, Sustainability Program Manager with the Timber Development Association of NSW, launched the online end-of-life wood pallets and packaging diversion calculator at Direct Pallets and Recycling, a new recycling centre at Ingleburn in Sydney’s south-west. [ + ]

Pilbara communities will save up to 1.15 billion litres of water each year through a $1.5 million expansion of water-efficiency projects. [ + ]

A typical 50 MW wind farm pays host farmers some $250,000 per year, is constructed by workers who spend up to $1.2 million locally and contributes up to $80,000 annually to community projects, according to a landmark study into the economic benefits of wind farms. [ + ]

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) yesterday presented an initiative to boost sustainable agriculture in developing countries through partnerships between governments, businesses and smallholder farmers to coordinate the production and export of key commodities like coffee, grains and cocoa. [ + ]

Brother International Australia, a provider of home and business IT peripherals, has joined the Australia and New Zealand Recycling Platform (ANZRP), to provide a free e-waste recycling service for Australian consumers. [ + ]

Following the successful installation of new recycling bins at Westfield Shopping Centres nationally, the recycling of bottles and cans has almost trebled from 542 to 1492 tonnes a year, equivalent to more than 62 million small plastic PET containers. [ + ]

The Water Sciences Group (WSG) of Australian Laboratory Services (ALS) has joined engineering, architecture and environmental consulting company GHD. [ + ]

The Clean Energy Regulator has made a determination on the number of local councils with landfill sites that could be emitting large amounts of methane and other gasses. [ + ]

From 1 July 2012, various types of emissions units will be financial products under the Corporations Act. Financial services in these products will be regulated by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC). [ + ]