Environmental

Chloe Munro named head of Clean Energy Regulator

RACHEL ALEMBAKIS  |  FRIDAY, 10 FEB 2012  |  NEWS
Chloe Munro has been appointed chair and chief executive officer of the Clean Energy Regulator.

Government extends deadlines for Solar Flagship Program

RACHEL ALEMBAKIS  |  WEDNESDAY, 8 FEB 2012  |  NEWS
The Australian government has extended the tender process for grants to its Solar Flagship Program, designed to fund the construction of a large-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) power station.

City of Melbourne to hold EUA sessions for building sector

RACHEL ALEMBAKIS  |  WEDNESDAY, 8 FEB 2012  |  NEWS
The City of Melbourne and the Sustainable Melbourne Fund are offering three free information sessions to educate consultants and contractors to the commercial building sector on environmental upgrade agreements (EUAs).

Ken Henry to speak at ACCSR annual conference

RACHEL ALEMBAKIS  |  WEDNESDAY, 8 FEB 2012  |  NEWS
Former Treasury Secretary Ken Henry will give a keynote address at the Australian Centre for Corporate Social Responsibility (ACCSR)'s fifth annual conference on the state of corporate social responsible in Australia.

Debate over setting surrender charges for carbon units

RACHEL ALEMBAKIS  |  FRIDAY, 3 FEB 2012  |  NEWS
The government is consulting with stakeholders on regulations to establish surrender charge for international carbon units that liable companies could purchase to offset carbon emission liabilities. Brokers say that the government must select a policy ...

CDP: companies put climate change risk into supply chain

RACHEL ALEMBAKIS  |  FRIDAY, 3 FEB 2012  |  NEWS
Global businesses are increasingly integrating climate change strategies into their supply chain procurement guidelines, but suppliers' rates of reducing greenhouse gas emission are lower than their corporate clients, according to a Carbon Disclosure ...

Finsia: ESG consistent with superannuation fiduciary duties

RACHEL ALEMBAKIS  |  FRIDAY, 3 FEB 2012  |  NEWS
Integrating environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors into investment processes is "entirely consistent" with the fiduciary duties of superannuation trustees, the Financial Services Institute of Australasia (Finsia) said in a newly published ...

Henry Davis York reports increase in pro bono, energy and travel

RACHEL ALEMBAKIS  |  WEDNESDAY, 1 FEB 2012  |  NEWS
Law firm Henry Davis York reported a 17% increase in the firm's contribution to pro bono hours and the extension of an existing partner development program to include administrative and management staff, but also disclosed increases in purchased energy ...

MSCI launches ESG ratings for sovereign bonds

RACHEL ALEMBAKIS  |  WEDNESDAY, 1 FEB 2012  |  NEWS
MSCI has launched a sovereign ratings tool designed to identify a country's exposure to and management of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) risk factors.

IGCC working group engages on green finance design, function

RACHEL ALEMBAKIS  |  WEDNESDAY, 25 JAN 2012  |  NEWS
Given the Australian and global push to transition to a low carbon economy by attracting private investment, the Low Carbon Finance Working Group (LCFWG) of the Investor Group on Climate Change (IGCC) is engaging with the government on the set-up and ...