CE Daily http://www.cedaily.com.au/index.php CE Daily en-au Copyright CE Daily 2008 hourly 1 1970-01-01T00:00+00:00 CE Daily http://www.cedaily.com.au/RDF/manage_head1.gif http://www.cedaily.com.au/ CE Daily Wilkins warns on cost risks of climate policies http://www.cedaily.com.au/nl06_news_selected.php?act=2&selkey=37451 Unless applied in a disciplined way, supplementary measures to emissions trading risk 'simply increasing the cost of reduction', head of the Rudd Government's climate policy review, Roger Wilkins, said today. Wilkins flagged the national electricity market, transport and tax policy as among the areas requiring review to ensure the emissions trading scheme can work as efficiently as possible. CE Daily 2008-08-20T14:01:39+10:00 Linking the Australian and NZ schemes: 'we might need a pre-nup' http://www.cedaily.com.au/nl06_news_selected.php?act=2&selkey=37447 A senior NZ climate official today said her country could handle the 'in-law issues' associated with linking to Australia's trading regime, but suggested a 'pre-nup' might be a sensible precaution in case policy differences emerge. Meanwhile, Anthea Harris of Australia's Department of Climate Change warned against a marriage of the two schemes until they 'come of age'. CE Daily 2008-08-20T11:52:17+10:00 EPA Victoria sets out plans for ACCC-style enforceable undertakings http://www.cedaily.com.au/nl06_news_selected.php?act=2&selkey=37446 The Victorian Government yesterday released draft guidelines for the use of ACCC-style enforceable undertakings as an enforcement tool under the Environment Protection Act. CE Daily 2008-08-20T11:17:00+10:00 Climate official: don't expect a quick fix on complementary measures http://www.cedaily.com.au/nl06_news_selected.php?act=2&selkey=37444 It will take several years to sort out and streamline the mix of climate change policy measures operating in Australia, Department of Climate Change deputy secretary Blair Comley has warned. Comley also made it clear the Rudd Government was not locked into policy positions set out in the emissions trading green paper. And he defended the use of a price cap in the early years of the trading scheme. CE Daily 2008-08-20T08:34:40+10:00 Rudd flags new energy efficiency measures for business; defends CCS focus http://www.cedaily.com.au/nl06_news_selected.php?act=2&selkey=37434 Prime Minister Kevin Rudd this morning told an Auckland climate conference new energy efficiency measures are on the way for business and stoutly defended the Government’s focus on carbon capture and storage. Both Rudd and his New Zealand counterpart Helen Clark stressed strong domestic action as a precondition for influencing international talks, with Clark saying the role of ‘fast follower’ was not good enough. CE Daily 2008-08-19T12:44:29+10:00 Foreign investors empowered to slow climate policy, lawyer warns http://www.cedaily.com.au/nl06_news_selected.php?act=2&selkey=37419 Many bilateral investment agreements and free trade agreements give foreign investors broad powers to seek compensation for legislative changes – and these could prove a major global stumbling block to efforts to introduce climate change legislation, according to lawyer and academic Kate Miles. CE Daily 2008-08-19T07:58:00+10:00 AIGN to Rudd Government: have you got 20% target right? http://www.cedaily.com.au/nl06_news_selected.php?act=2&selkey=37420 The Australian Industry Greenhouse Network has questioned whether the Rudd Government has done its sums properly when calculating how much electricity will need to be supplied from renewables in order to meet the government's target of generating 20% of power from renewables by 2020. CE Daily 2008-08-18T09:04:16+10:00 Give minister power to order agreement, carbon storage inquiry recommends http://www.cedaily.com.au/nl06_news_selected.php?act=2&selkey=37412 The Minister for Energy and Resources should have power to direct petroleum companies and CO2e storage proponents to negotiate in good faith and come to terms, a House of Representatives carbon capture and storage inquiry recommended today. CE Daily 2008-08-15T16:07:01+10:00 Double green car fund and don't couple trading with vehicle targets, auto review says http://www.cedaily.com.au/nl06_news_selected.php?act=2&selkey=37408 The Federal Government should double the size of its Green Car Innovation Fund to $1 billion if it proves successful, recommends the Bracks review of the automotive industry. The review, released today, backs including transport in the emissions trading scheme, but warns that imposing vehicle emissions targets as well would be 'overly burdensome'. CE Daily 2008-08-15T13:42:49+10:00 CSR takes $430,000 hit as court rules company put production ahead of minimising risk http://www.cedaily.com.au/nl06_news_selected.php?act=2&selkey=37407 CSR will pay a penalty and costs totalling more than $430,000 following a chemical spill, after the NSW Land and Environment court criticised it for emphasising the need to continue production at the expense of minimising pollution risks. The judge found the possibility of the company re-offending 'cannot be excluded'. CE Daily 2008-08-15T13:38:43+10:00 Ferguson cold on mandatory efficiency scheme; and more http://www.cedaily.com.au/nl06_news_selected.php?act=2&selkey=37370 * Ferguson on energy efficiency: we favour market approaches * Exploration acreage not given proper environmental scrutiny, gas company says * Don't proceed with renewables target scheme, BCA tells Government * Network regulation hampering demand management, report finds * Victoria establishes climate change advisory group * We're now carbon neutral, City of Sydney says CE Daily 2008-08-12T12:46:39+10:00 Victoria proposes $40 energy efficiency penalty; Greens push to amend EEO scheme; and more http://www.cedaily.com.au/nl06_news_selected.php?act=2&selkey=37362 * Victoria proposes $40-per-tonne penalty for energy efficiency target scheme * NSW water law now in force * Perth joins 'solar cities' ranks CE Daily 2008-08-11T15:20:00+10:00 Establish new standards body for chemicals, Productivity Commission says http://www.cedaily.com.au/nl06_news_selected.php?act=2&selkey=37332 The federal, state and territory governments should create a new standard-setting body to manage the environmental impact of chemicals, according to a Productivity Commission report released today. CE Daily 2008-08-07T10:56:41+10:00 Tax review could report early on climate change issues http://www.cedaily.com.au/nl06_news_selected.php?act=2&selkey=37329 The Henry review of Australia's tax system has until the end of 2009 to deliver its final report, but could provide advice to the Rudd Government earlier than that on tax matters related to emissions trading. CE Daily 2008-08-06T17:00:08+10:00 Forest sink concession won't be a tax scam, Senate told; Heffernan goes on the attack http://www.cedaily.com.au/nl06_news_selected.php?act=2&selkey=37327 Australia's largest carbon sink forest provider has told a Senate inquiry it "beggars belief" that recent tax break legislation will see carbon sinks used as a tax scam, while Senator Bill Heffernan used the inquiry to launch a vitriolic attack on NAFI's CEO Allan Hansard during his appearance as a witness. CE Daily 2008-08-06T16:21:31+10:00 Climate change risks prompt planning tribunal to reject coastal housing bid http://www.cedaily.com.au/nl06_news_selected.php?act=2&selkey=37308 Victoria's planning tribunal has overturned a council decision to grant permits for six homes on coastal land partly because of the risk of climate change-induced rising sea levels. CE Daily 2008-08-05T15:22:57+10:00 'States will need ETS compensation too'; and more http://www.cedaily.com.au/nl06_news_selected.php?act=2&selkey=37296 * States have a strong case for ETS compensation, says Australia Institute * NSW issues draft construction noise guideline * Liberals criticise new Victorian hazardous waste restrictions CE Daily 2008-08-04T13:42:17+10:00 Garrett: data vindicates us on PV rebate, now for efficiency http://www.cedaily.com.au/nl06_news_selected.php?act=2&selkey=37292 There has been "record growth" in applications for the solar PV rebate since the Government's Budget night introduction of a means test, says Federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett. Garrett is now set to turn his attention to energy efficiency measures and other elements of the household assistance package that will accompany the introduction of emissions trading. CE Daily 2008-08-04T11:06:32+10:00 Don't risk nation's competitive advantage, Coalition warns; and more http://www.cedaily.com.au/nl06_news_selected.php?act=2&selkey=37273 * Don't risk nation's competitive advantage, warns Coalition * Climate Ready program seeks first round grant applications * How Queensland's climate impact statement process works * Tasmania to hold fuel summit * IPCC issues climate change and water report CE Daily 2008-07-31T11:24:35+10:00 Acting now is in our national interest, says Wong http://www.cedaily.com.au/nl06_news_selected.php?act=2&selkey=37251 As senior Coalition members meet in Canberra to hammer out the Opposition's climate change policy, Climate Change Minister Penny Wong has told a Clean Energy Council briefing that moving now on emissions trading is in Australia's national interest. CE Daily 2008-07-29T14:03:26+10:00 Call to overhaul coastal planning; and more http://www.cedaily.com.au/nl06_news_selected.php?act=2&selkey=37244 * Bring climate change into coastal planning mainstream, report urges * Election analysis uncovers stark differences on global warming * Put a carbon tariff on imported goods, says AMWU * One in three wants coal export cuts, survey finds * Study finds patchy performance by 'G8 plus five' on climate commitments CE Daily 2008-07-28T15:10:14+10:00 Queensland to introduce new geothermal law; and more http://www.cedaily.com.au/nl06_news_selected.php?act=2&selkey=37232 * Queensland to introduce new geothermal legislation * Insurers won't cover CCS, says Shell * Trading scheme will drive shift to clean energy, says Climate Institute * SA wine industry the major user of treated timber * National Pollutant Inventory issues revised handbooks CE Daily 2008-07-25T14:48:15+10:00 Swan tells NZ not to 'mimic' trading scheme; Victoria and Woodside warn of CCS delays; more http://www.cedaily.com.au/nl06_news_selected.php?act=2&selkey=37198 * Treasurer to NZ: don't mimic our trading scheme * Federal CCS Bill: Victoria and Woodside warn of delays * BP to pay $200,000 after ACT service station leak CE Daily 2008-07-22T14:38:55+10:00 Wong: we will 'recalibrate' if it's warranted http://www.cedaily.com.au/nl06_news_selected.php?act=2&selkey=37190 The Rudd Government believes it has come up with a 'transparent' and 'equitable' method for deciding which industries should receive free permits, Climate Change Minister Penny Wong said in a Melbourne Press Club address today. But the minister acknowledged more recent data about these industries might lead to tweaking of thresholds and entitlements. CE Daily 2008-07-21T15:42:51+10:00 WA power plant challenge fails; Gore calls for 100% renewables; NPI; and more http://www.cedaily.com.au/nl06_news_selected.php?act=2&selkey=37186 * Coal-fired power plant assessment challenge fails * Banksia Award winners announced * National Pollutant Inventory issues new manuals * Gore urges U.S. to be 100% renewable in a decade (with video) * OECD calls for policy shift on biofuels CE Daily 2008-07-21T14:29:39+10:00 Woodside still to clarify trading scheme status http://www.cedaily.com.au/nl06_news_selected.php?act=2&selkey=37176 Woodside is not absolutely sure that it won’t be classified as emissions-intensive, but we’re ‘certainly not certain that we will be’, according to a company spokesman. And while the company is attributing any failure to make the cut to its emissions reduction efforts, the skyrocketing price of LNG is also a factor. As the price rises, emissions intensity, expressed in terms of emissions per million dollars of revenue, will inevitably fall. CE Daily 2008-07-18T15:41:41+10:00 AIGN: trade-exposed industries should get 100% permit allocation http://www.cedaily.com.au/nl06_news_selected.php?act=2&selkey=37174 Prime Minister Kevin Rudd undertook not to disadvantage trade-exposed emissions-intensive industries but his Government’s emissions trading green paper fails to deliver and takes a harder line on key issues than the Howard Government's proposed framework, says Australian Industry Greenhouse Network chief Michael Hitchens. CE Daily 2008-07-18T13:38:04+10:00 ESAA: ‘we like the decision, we like the reasoning’ http://www.cedaily.com.au/nl06_news_selected.php?act=2&selkey=37164 The government’s plan to give free permits or cash to coal-fired generators is welcome, as is the rationale for doing so, while the arrival of the green paper means the ‘shadow boxing’ is over and there are concrete proposals to consider, says Energy Supply Association of Australia chief Brad Page. CE Daily 2008-07-17T15:14:01+10:00 Greg Hunt: where’s the renewables vision? http://www.cedaily.com.au/nl06_news_selected.php?act=2&selkey=37160 Shadow Climate Change and Environment Minister Greg Hunt has slammed the temporary nature of the Rudd Government's petrol price excise offset, the rush to implement trading in 2010 and the failure to deliver economic modelling in a timely manner. And he has also criticised yesterday’s green paper for the absence of a ‘broader renewables vision’. However, Hunt told CE Daily the adoption of ‘many of the design features’ of former PM John Howard’s task group report is ‘good and welcome’. CE Daily 2008-07-17T10:55:20+10:00 Trading scheme reactions; Coalition should rub their hands with glee, says Milne http://www.cedaily.com.au/nl06_news_selected.php?act=2&selkey=37158 Greens Senator Christine Milne says the Rudd Government’s trading scheme design should have the Coalition ‘rubbing their hands with glee’, given its handouts for industry and the decision to offset petrol price rises. But Opposition Leader Brendan Nelson has described the scheme as ‘a cynical exercise on a number of fronts’. Plus comments from the plantation industry, WWF, Environment Business Australia and more. CE Daily 2008-07-16T17:42:10+10:00