New era of recycling and new jobs for Victoria
Source: Victoria. Department of Environment and Climate Change.
"Almost $54 million will be spent over the next five years to assist councils, community and industry to adapt to increased recycling opportunities."

Carbon Down
Source: Victoria. Department of Environment and Climate Change.
A new website - Carbon Compass has been launched to help small and medium businesses reduce their carbon footprint.

Carbon Down website.

Australia's Farming Future
Source: Australia. Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.
"Australia’s Farming Future is the Australian Government’s climate change initiative for primary industries. It provides funding over four years to help primary producers adapt and respond to climate change. The objective of Australia’s Farming Future is to equip primary producers to adapt and adjust to the impacts of climate change."

New energy efficient standard on way
Source: Queensland. Minister for Infrastructure and Planning. Media Release. " Queensland’s sub-tropical and tropical climate will be taken into account when the State adopts a new national code for a 6-star (or equivalent) energy efficiency standard. Minister for Infrastructure and Planning Stirling Hinchliffe said the changes, to take effect for new houses and townhouses and major renovations from 1 May 2010, will be made through an amendment to the Queensland Development Code (QDC) 4.1 – Sustainable buildings."

$1 Million Boost to Help Communities Live Sustainably
Source: Victoria. Minister for Environment & Climate Change. Media Release
"The Brumby Labor Government is providing $1 million to establish “EcoLiving” Centres across Victoria that will help the community learn how to live sustainably. Visiting Ballarat, Environment and Climate Change Minister Gavin Jennings announced four new projects that will provide information, training programs, demonstrations and displays on sustainable living.
“The Brumby Labor Government is working in partnership with the community to help address climate change,” Mr Jennings said. “The EcoLiving Centres will be located in Ballarat, Wangaratta, Mildura and Melbourne’s South East and will see the development of EcoLiving Centres and hubs. “The centres will provide practical information and advice on how we can make our homes and workplaces greener so we can collectively take action on climate change.
There will be demonstrations on sustainable technologies including solar panels and solar hot water as well as training and information on subjects such as how to complete sustainable renovations.”

Restoring the Balance in the Murray-Darling Basin
Source: Australia. Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts.
"The health of the Murray-Darling Basin is in decline. Available water is currently over-allocated, and this problem is likely to become worse as water availability declines due to climate change. The Australian Government's Restoring the Balance in the Murray-Darling Basin Program is an important component of Water for the Future, the Australian Government's $12.9 billion national plan on water. Under Water for the Future the Government has committed $3.1 billion over 10 years to purchase water in the Murray-Darling Basin. The program will complement a range of other measures to achieve sustainable water management in the Basin."

Water in Australia: Water for the Future
Source: Australia. Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts.
"Australia faces major challenges in ensuring sustainable water supply in the face of drying climate and rising demand for water. In response, the Australian Government's framework, Water for the Future, provides national leadership in water reform for all Australians. The Australian Government's Water for the Future priorities will be delivered through a ten-year, $12.9 billion investment in strategic programs, improved water management arrangements, and a renewed commitment to deliver a range of water policy reforms in both rural and urban areas."

Sustainable new era for units begins
Source: Queensland. Minister for Infrastructure and Planning. Media Release
"All new units will be required to achieve a minimum five stars (out of 10) energy equivalence rating from today as part of Bligh Government’s move towards more sustainable housing.
The new law is part of the State Government’s sustainable housing policies to lift environmental standards for new homes, offices and government buildings in Queensland.
Infrastructure and Planning Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said the initiatives would help achieve a key Towards Q2: Tomorrow’s Queensland goal by lowering electricity use and greenhouse gas emissions.
“Queensland is pioneering a range of sustainable policies in the built environment that will cut carbon dioxide levels and help develop new clean, green industry jobs,” Mr Hinchliffe said.
A five-star requirement was introduced for all new houses, townhouses and major renovations in March 2009, and from today this measure will apply for all new units and those undergoing major renovations."

Enhanced Renewable Energy Target Scheme
Source: Australia. Minister for Climate Change and Water & The Hon Greg Combet AM MP. Joint Media Release.
"The Rudd Government’s Renewable Energy Target scheme will be enhanced to provide greater certainty for households, employees and businesses within the renewable energy industry, as we build the low pollution economy of the future. From 1 January 2011 the Renewable Energy Target, which guarantees 20 per cent of Australia’s energy in 2020 will come from renewable sources, will include two parts - the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES) and the Large-scale Renewable Energy Target (LRET)."

Tropical design to be recognised and rewarded
Source: Queensland. Minister for Infrastructure and Planning. Media Release
"A Tropical Design Forum will be held in Cairns to celebrate the unique sustainable characteristics of Queensland homes. Minister for Infrastructure and Planning Stirling Hinchliffe said feedback from the forum would help shape national building guidelines to determine the energy efficiency of Australian homes. Mr Hinchliffe said under a Council of Australian Governments (COAG) initiative, announced in April 2009, all new residential buildings would have to meet 6-star or equivalent energy efficient requirements by May 2011. He said while the initiative was encouraging, not all Australian homes were the same. The Bligh Government is leading the charge to have Queensland’s unique tropical design features recognised and rewarded."

DIRECT ACTION ON THE ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Source: Australia. Federal Opposition. Policy
"A Coalition Government will take direct action to reduce Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions by five percent by 2020. The Coalition’s climate action policy provides incentives for Australian families and businesses to reduce their carbon emissions and focuses on meaningful, effective and direct action to improve Australia’s environment."

THE COALITION'S DIRECT ACTION PLAN - POLICY
Source: Australia. Opposition Leader. Policy
"A Coalition Government will implement a climate change strategy based on direct action to reduce emissions and improve the environment. Direct action on soil carbons will be the major plank of our strategy, supported by other direct action measures that will reduce CO2 emissions by 5 per cent by 2020 based on 1990 levels and deliver significant environmental outcomes – without the need for a great big new tax."

Queensland bid for smart grid dollars
Source: Queensland. Minister for Natural Resources, Mines and Energy. Media Release
"A Queensland Government consortium has today launched a bid for $100 million in federal funds to build a demonstration smart electricity grid for Australia.
Minister for Natural Resources, Mines and Energy Stephen Robertson said Queensland’s demonstration grid would show how promising new technologies could be successfully applied to the Australian lifestyle, climate and geography. He said a sustainable future electricity industry would require better use of renewable energy sources and greater understanding of how we use energy. “The Queensland Smart Communities bid would incorporate renewable energy technologies into the electricity network, along with information technology that will help consumers make better-informed and smarter choices about their energy use,” Mr Robertson said. “New technologies include a solar thermal storage technology pilot, which captures heat from the sun and stores it for future electricity generation. “Another technology to be trialled is the coupling of solar photo-voltaics with applications that will fit them to modern power grids, proving their worth as a reliable source of clean, green energy,” he said."

SUSTAINABILITY FOCUS FOR 2010
Source: NSW. Minister for Education. Media Release.
"Ms Firth said the NSW Government would invest $5 million engaging staff and students in energy saving and greenhouse gas reduction projects in public schools over the next four years.
“Other initiatives will include new online resources and professional learning for teachers, an awards program, environmental themed events and activities for schools, and online training in sustainability for all TAFE NSW staff,” Ms Firth said."

SOLAR PANELS ROLLOUT FOR GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS
Source: SA. Premier. Media Release.
"Solar panels will be mandatory for all new and substantially refurbished government buildings from July 1 next year, Premier Mike Rann announced. The Premier said this is another action the government is taking to move South Australia towards even greater uptake of renewable energy. "We have increased South Australia’s target for renewable energy generation to 33% by 2020, higher than the national target," the Premier said."

SA INITIATIVE PREPARES WINE INDUSTRY FOR CLIMATE CHANGE
Source: SA. Minister for Agriculture. Media Release.
" A new information kit will put South Australian vignerons on the front foot in dealing with climate change and variability. Prepared by scientists from the SA Research and Development Institute. During a visit to the Coonawarra wine region today, Agriculture Minister, Paul Caica said the kit sets out a well-designed process, backed by climate science to help growers adapt to a changing climate."

Combating Climate Change
Source: Northern Territory. Chief Minister
“The Environment and Economic Sustainability are core areas of Territory 2030, and the Territory’s climate change policy is a key part of both of these. Underpinning the policy is an aspirational goal of a 60% reduction in carbon emissions on 2007 levels by 2050. This Government also strongly supports a national emissions trading scheme. This means we can drive real change and reduce emissions."

Draft sustainable energy policy released for public comment
Source: ACT. Minister for Energy
"Human-induced global warming is the greatest and most urgent threat confronting humanity. Combating climate change means a drastic reduction in emissions of greenhouse gases. In response, the ACT Government has adopted a Territory-wide target of zero net greenhouse gas emissions by 2060. The draft Sustainable Energy Policy 2010–2020 presents a range of policies that the ACT Government will consider in its move towards zero net emissions. The specific targets in the draft policy will be subject to further review to take into account research that has been commissioned by the ACT Government as well as comments from the public consultation."

Tax deductible status for important environment and climate change organisations
Source: Australia. Minister for the Environment. Media release
"The Assistant Treasurer, Senator Nick Sherry, and the Minister for the Environment, Peter Garrett, have today announced that 11 organisations involved in the fight against climate change and helping to preserve and protect the environment have been granted tax deductible status. "

Australia joins new global research alliance on agricultural greenhouse gases
Source: Australia. Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and Minister for Climate Change and Water. Joint media release
"Australia has become a key member of a new Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases which was launched today at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen.
Minister for Climate Change and Water, Senator Penny Wong, joined New Zealand Associate Minister for Climate Change Issues, the Hon. Tim Grosser, and American Secretary of Agriculture, Tim Vilsack in launching the Alliance, which formalises the ongoing collaboration of international research efforts on agriculture mitigation."