Rare shark’s genome mapped
Rare shark’s genome mapped
Australian scientists have mapped the genome of a threatened shark genus, a breakthrough that will hopefully help ensure its survival.
Feature: Green gold
Feature: Green gold
Australian research is helping the gold mining industry in its search to replace cyanide with a safer alternative, reports Tony Malkovic.
Adelaide’s desal plant: catastrophe for marine ecosystems?
Adelaide’s desal plant: catastrophe for marine ecosystems?
Environmentalists fear that Adelaide’s proposed billion dollar desalination plant in the St Vincent Gulf will have catastrophic effects on the local marine ecosystem. The plant is expected to discharge 50 billion litres of saline water each year, and this is predicted to kill the sea grasses that stabilise the marine environment. The plant is considered essential by SA’s Government to safeguard Adelaide’s water supply, but protesters fear that the plans are being pushed through without enough studies or consultation in order to meet the target of having the plant online by the end of 2011.
Australia: Peter Garrett rejects heritage call to protect eucalypt forests
Australia: Peter Garrett rejects heritage call to protect eucalypt forests
Australian: AUSTRALIA will defy a call by the 21-nation World Heritage Committee to extend Tasmania’s Wilderness World Heritage Area to include tracts of tall eucalypt forests scheduled for logging. The WHC meeting in Quebec called on Canberra to “consider extension of the property to include appropriate areas of tall eucalypt forests”. Conservationists immediately urged federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett to heed the call, but late yesterday he rejected it. “The …
‘Devil-proof’ fences to save Tassie icon
‘Devil-proof’ fences to save Tassie icon
The Tasmanian devil could be living in fenced off areas of Tasmania and mainland Australia in a bid to halt the spread of a deadly cancer currently decimating its numbers.
Winners and losers in Australian climate change
Winners and losers in Australian climate change
SYDNEY (Reuters) - Climate change could alter the farming map of Australia, with some agricultural operations moving into the wetter north of the island continent as the major food-producing belt in the south dries up.
DEWHA News
NEW GREENHOUSE EMISSIONS REPORTING SYSTEM STARTS TUESDAY
From next Tuesday (1 July), businesses emitting large amounts of greenhouse gases will be required to monitor and measure the emissions ahead of reporting them to the Government by October next year.
Minister for Climate Change and Water, Senator Penny Wong, said the requirements were part of Australia’s new National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting System.
“The National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting System will be an important part of our efforts to tackle climate change as we move to establish an emissions trading scheme,” Senator Wong said.
http://www.environment.gov.au/minister/wong/2008/pubs/mr20080626.pdf
NEW REPORTS SHOW CHALLENGE OF REDUCING GREENHOUSE EMISSIONS
Minister for Climate Change and Water, Senator Penny Wong, today released Australia’s greenhouse emission results for 2006 and a preliminary result for 2007.
“Australia’s National Greenhouse Accounts show that Australia’s emissions for 2006 and preliminary estimates of emissions in 2007 remain on track to meet our Kyoto target,” Senator Wong said.
“But we still have a big job ahead of us to reduce greenhouse emissions.”
http://www.environment.gov.au/minister/wong/2008/pubs/mr20080624.pdf
$8.6 MILLION FOR RESEARCH ON ‘WIN-WIN’ WATER USE
The Rudd Government has provided $8.6 million for a new research project into how changed farming practices can simultaneously improve water use and productivity, while delivering better environmental outcomes.
“The Farms, Rivers and Markets Project will develop a ‘how to’ guide for farmers to integrate their farm water needs with broader environmental needs,” Minister for Climate Change and Water, Senator Penny Wong, said.
“This project will involve farm-scale demonstrations exploring how the latest technology in water measurement and management, combined with better use of water markets, can boost farm profits and productivity, improve delivery of water to the farm gate, reduce leakage, and improve water use efficiency.”
http://www.environment.gov.au/minister/wong/2008/pubs/mr20080622b.pdf
FUNDING TO HELP IRRIGATION PROVIDERS ADAPT TO CLIMATE CHANGE
Irrigation water providers in the Murray-Darling Basin can apply for up to $500,000 funding each to help them modernise their water delivery infrastructure.
The funding aims to help Basin irrigation water providers plan for a future with reduced water availability by providing support for them to make their facilities efficient and sustainable.
“ Australia’s climate is changing and we have less available water than ever before. So we must make every effort to use the water we do have more efficiently,” Senator Wong said.
http://www.environment.gov.au/minister/wong/2008/pubs/mr20080622.pdf
Carbon neutral woollen shirt claimed a world first
Carbon neutral woollen shirt claimed a world first
An Australian wool company says it’s achieved a world first by making a carbon neutral woollen shirt. The Merino Company says the shirt was launched this week at a trade show in Milan by Italian fashion house, Pitti…
Qld average temps could rise 5 degrees: report
Qld average temps could rise 5 degrees: report
A new study shows average temperatures in Qld could increase by up to 5 degrees Celsius by 2070.
Call to make Sunshine Coast a biosphere reserve
Call to make Sunshine Coast a biosphere reserve
The president of the Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) wants the entire Sunshine Coast in south-east Queensland to be made a biosphere reserve.