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Landfill Carbon Pricing – Revenue and Risk

Landfill carbon pricing – revenue and risk 1. Examining the current state of pricing of landfills in the market 2. Why are different landfills charging such different rates – the answers revealed 3. Claw backs and reasonable costs 4. Identifying reasonable versus unreasonable price adjustments to carbon 5. Advice for landfill users 6. Advice for landfill owners 7. What does the recent changes to emissions factors mean for pricing 8. Pricing now for an emission in 2038 with both proximity, emission factor and carbon pricing uncertainty all in the mix. Mike Ritchie will address these issues and more at the …

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Sustainable Investment Guidelines – linking sustainability into the investment decision

The single largest investor in capital works  is the public sector, but it’s the same sector that struggles with some of the fundamentals of sustainable investment. Key challenges include: • the prioritisation of construction over operational spends; • a lack of focus on long term benefits realisation at the expense of immediate delivery pressures; • a narrow definition of sustainability, often singularly toward environmental (as opposed to social or economic) issues; • and a fundamental disjoint between sustainability and the investment decision. Major Projects Victoria and AECOM have tackled the issue by developing guidance that explains why and how to …

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Warmer climate boosts northern crops but the bad soon outweighs the good

By Sunanda Creagh, The Conversation Climate change is creating warmer growing conditions in parts of the Earth’s northern regions, a new study has found, but experts warn that drought and heat wil soon cancel out the agricultural benefits. The international study, published in the journal Nature Climate Change, analysed NASA satellite data and 30 years of land surface temperature records for 26 million square kilometres between the Arctic Ocean and 45 degrees north latitude. “Higher northern latitudes are getting warmer, Arctic sea ice and the duration of snow cover are diminishing, the growing season is getting longer and plants are …

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GBCA calls on WA to strengthen sustainability commitment

20 February 2013 — In the face of Western Australia’s 9 March state election, the Green Building Council of Australia has outlined a three-point green plan for the state’s buildings and communities to create “a clear long-term pathway to resilience and sustainability”. The Council has called on the political leaders of Western Australia to strengthen their commitment to more efficient, productive, resource-friendly and sustainable buildings and communities. Executive director Robin Mellon said “despite a slow start” the number of Green Star rated buildings in WA continued to grow, government and industry were working collaboratively, the GBCA’s state industry group was …

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Climate change linked to declines in labour productivity

By Sunanda Creagh, The Conversation and Charis Palmer, The Conversation Increases in humidity caused as a result of climate change are reducing labour productivity and it’s only likely to get worse over time, argue researchers from America’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. In an article published today in the journal Nature Climate Change, the researchers say humidity is already reducing people’s working capacity by 10% during peak months of heat stress around the world, and this is likely to grow to 20% by 2050. The researchers say even if the global community commits to active mitigation of CO2, there will …

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Westpac: We’re back! …with an $8 billion commitment to sustainability

By Tina Perinotto 19 February 2013 – Westpac last night (Monday) launched a dramatic new sustainability strategy it says will be worth $8 billion over the next five years, doubling its investments in clean technology, environmental services and including $2 billion for social and affordable housing. The announcement signals that for corporate Australia, sustainability is now firmly back on the agenda, after slipping from the radar last year. The package will include lending and investment for renewable energy, energy efficiency, green buildings, waste, water, carbon farming and sustainable forestry activities and land rehabilitation. “For an activity to be deemed ‘green’ …

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US legislature to introduce a market-based mechanism to place a price on carbon?

13 February 2013 — US President Barack Obama has called on the US legislature to introduce a market-based mechanism to place a price on carbon. President Obama was delivering his 2013 State of the Union address, delivered to Congress, 13 February, Australian time. The President called on Congress to pass a bill similar to that proposed by Senator John McCain and former Senator Joe Lieberman a few years ago, which would have introduced a US “cap and trade” emissions trading scheme. “I urge this Congress to get together to pursue a bipartisan, market-based solution to climate change, like the one …

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Burn bush, reduce emissions: evaluating costs and benefits of prescribed burning

By Matthias Boer, University of Western Sydney and Ross Bradstock, University of Wollongong Bushfires are, together with cyclones and flooding, among the most important natural hazards affecting Australian communities. They also make a significant contribution to Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions. Australia has bushfires because of our inherently flammable vegetation types, the recurrence of severe droughts, and a high incidence of hot, dry weather conditions. Management agencies cannot control climate and weather. Consequently, fire hazard reduction focuses primarily on reducing bushland fuel. Starting fires to stop fires In most of Australia’s fire-prone environments, “burning off” – more formally known as prescribed, …

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The Sustainability Conference – join us in Melbourne in 2013

The national Sustainability Conference “Sustainable Transformation 2 ” will be held in conjunction with the 6th Making Cities Liveable Conference, in a new era of collaboration, information sharing and professional networking. The conference is being held from the 17th – 19th June 2013 at Novotel Melbourne St Kilda. The joint meeting brings together National, State and Regional delegates to exchange ideas, discuss Business, Government  and Community initiatives and examine opportunities in the sector, we hope you will join us. Delegates will have access to an extensive range of topics with over 90 presentations across three days including Keynotes, Concurrent Sessions, Case …

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The Many Sides of Sustainability – revisted

In early 2011 Oracle released a white paper on the “The Many Sides of Sustainability” The following is quoted directly from the paper and refers to 2010 data… “Regardless of how large or how profitable they are, businesses today do not stand alone. They are inextricably linked with the societies in which they operate. Every decision they make—whether it‘s to close a plant, move opera tions to a different country or set a price for a new product—affects the surrounding community and the natural environment, for better or for worse. Regulations resulting from corporate scandals, the rising influence of non-governmental …

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