GEMS legislation introduced into parliament
07 June, 2012The Australian Government has introduced the Greenhouse and Energy Minimum Standards (GEMS) legislation to parliament. The GEMS legislation is an important initiative that implements a 2009 commitment by the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) to introduce national legislation to regulate equipment energy efficiency and to expand energy-efficiency regulation into new product areas.
Advisory report tabled on clean energy bills
07 June, 2012The House Economics Committee has recommended that Parliament pass the bills that establish a Clean Energy Finance Corporation, bring gaseous fuels under the carbon pricing mechanism and make other changes to improve the mechanism’s operation.
$5.2 billion saving to households and businesses under new national energy efficiency framework
31 May, 2012The Federal Parliamentary Secretary for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, Mark Dreyfus, yesterday introduced the Greenhouse and Energy Minimum Standards (GEMS) legislation to Parliament following agreement between the Gillard government, the New Zealand government and states and territories.
Six tips for businesses to prepare for the carbon tax
15 May, 2012Accounting firm RSM Bird Cameron is urging businesses to start preparing now for the introduction of the carbon tax on 1 July 2012.
Budget bails on green buildings but not irrigators
15 May, 2012The Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) speculated last week that the Tax Breaks for Green Buildings program would be scrapped in the 2012-13 Budget and, sure enough, their fears were confirmed. The program was noticeably absent from the Budget announcement, indicating a withdrawal of the funding allocated to the scheme in last year’s Forward Estimates.
Korea legislates for emissions trading by 2015
04 May, 2012The Republic of Korea, the world’s 15th largest economy and one of Australia’s top trading partners, has passed legislation for a national emissions trading scheme (ETS).
Exposure draft of Product Stewardship (Televisions and Computers) Amendment Regulation 2012 released
01 May, 2012An exposure draft of the Product Stewardship (Televisions and Computers) Amendment Regulation 2012 and associated commentary is now available for public comment.
Local government vital for climate change reduction, says energy expert
27 April, 2012A Massey University energy expert says proposed local government reforms would be a step backwards for sustainability.
Comments invited on CFI regulations
11 April, 2012Draft regulations to support the Carbon Farming Initiative (CFI) were released for consultation yesterday by the government.
ASIC releases guidance and policy proposals for carbon financial products
23 March, 2012The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) recently released regulatory guidance to help businesses comply with their financial services legal requirements leading up to the introduction of Australia’s carbon pricing mechanism.
ISO 50001 energy management Standard - adopted as European Standard
21 March, 2012European member states have recently agreed to adopt the International Organization for Standardization’s (ISO’s) Standard for energy management, ISO 50001:2011, as the European Standard for energy management systems. The publication of EN ISO 50001 will replace the existing European Standard, EN 16001:2009, to be withdrawn at the end of April 2012.
Tougher laws needed to smash green smoke screens
14 February, 2012Law reform and tougher legal sanctions to stop greenwashing are critical, according to a leading intellectual property expert from The Australian National University.
Carbon Farming Initiative open for business
08 December, 2011The Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, Greg Combet, Parliamentary Secretary for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, Mark Dreyfus QC and Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Senator Joe Ludwig welcomed today’s launch of the Carbon Farming Initiative Administrator - providing exciting opportunities for farmers, landholders and landfill operators to participate in carbon markets.
Applications open for energy security fund cash assistance
01 December, 2011The Australian Government is now accepting applications from eligible electricity generators for cash assistance under the Energy Security Fund.
April 2012 start date for Clean Energy Regulator
16 November, 2011The Clean Energy Regulator, the new administrative body responsible for the carbon-pricing mechanism, will begin operation from 2 April 2012.
