Global green building ratings committee appoints chair

The Chief Executive of the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA), Romilly Madew, has been appointed chair of a new committee tasked with overseeing consistent standards for global green building rating.

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Energy management standard for publication

ISO has announced a third quarter 2011 target for publication of its ISO 50001 International Standard for energy management. ISO 50001 will help organisations to improve their energy performance, increase energy efficiency and reduce climate change impacts.

OnVu ICE time temperature indicator

The OnVu ICE time temperature indicator can be used on food packaging to monitor the cold chain for chilled and deep-frozen food. Manufacturers, retailers and consumers will be able to tell at a glance whether ice-cream, pizza, fish or any other products were kept constantly deep-frozen or should rather be discarded because the cold chain was interrupted significantly.

Renewables programs key to effective climate response

Australia’s clean energy industry has welcomed the news of a price on greenhouse emissions from 2012, but warned that renewable energy programs will still be needed to deliver the cheapest transition to a de-carbonised economy.

Government urged to share vision for a sustainable future

Consult Australia has launched its new report, Seizing the Sustainability Advantage, that provides a blueprint for ambitious governance reform, including the integration of existing sustainability policies and programs currently fragmented across different areas of government, portfolios and agencies.

Water recycling education centre opens

The Keneally government’s new Water Recycling Education Centre has been officially opened by Minister for Water Phillip Costa this week in St Marys, building on the existing community education resources of Sydney Water.

Carbon price framework announced

The Gillard government has proposed that a carbon price mechanism will commence on 1 July 2012, subject to the ability to negotiate agreement with a majority in both houses of parliament and pass legislation this year.

Clean energy from contaminated land

A team of Australian and Chinese scientists has pioneered a new way to make clean energy from land contaminated with toxic waste.

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.

Time for a grown-up carbon strategy

Total Environment Centre has called on government to embrace energy efficiency along with a carbon price, in response to an analysis of federal government climate change programs, which was published in The Sydney Morning Herald on 16 February.

Measuring forestry’s impact on water availability

CSIRO has developed new tools to help government and industry water management agencies better estimate how forest plantations affect stream flows in local catchments.

Four new GBCA fellowships for industry leaders

Four green building fellowships have been awarded by the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) to recognise and reward the significant contributions of four industry leaders to Australia’s sustainable property and construction industry.

Nominations for Australia’s ‘greenest’ teacher now open

Sanyo has announced its sponsorship of Clean Up Australia’s 2011 Green Teacher Award - an award which recognises teachers who have positively influenced students by carrying out environmental projects within their school community.

Launch of the climate commission

The Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, Greg Combet, has announced the establishment of an independent Climate Commission, appointing the leading science communicator - Professor Tim Flannery - as Chief Commissioner.