CMI says it’s time to accelerate Climate Active reforms
The Carbon Market Institute has commended Parents for Climate, which launched legal action against energy provider Energy Australia for greenwashing its “go neutral” carbon offset program. The case was settled – with the company apologising to more than 400,000 Australians who signed up for the program.
CMI is now urging the government to use this case as an example to shift from carbon neutral to net zero emission reduction alignment.
The buyers for Aussie companies keep coming
The spate of acquisitions of Australian companies by international entities continues. Most recent is LCI Consultants, bought by France based Artelia and Spanish Ayesa acquiring ADP Consulting.
The LCI deal concluded in March with Artelia absorbing 300 Australian employees into its roughly 10,000 global employees spread around the world, with the Asia Pacific a major focus. The company is keen on taking up opportunities in heavy energy infrastructure, but will also maintain about 40 per cent of its turnover in buildings.
ADP also, earlier this year, came under the wings of Seville-based technology and engineering firm Ayesa.
Established in 1966, the company has around 13,000 staff and will absorb 300 staff across its six offices in Australia and the UK, where recent expansion has created nearly 15 jobs in the London office.
According to sources, the attraction of Australia is its stable English speaking business environment (along with, perhaps, its Trump free politics?)
Key market sectors that appeal to the newcomers are ADP’s sustainability, renewable energy, transportation, and innovative building practices.
The WA government needs to start getting serious about net zero
In light of federal Environment Minister Murray Watts’ visit to Western Australia, Curtin University Professor of Sustainability Peter Newman penned some salient words to the West Australian this week:
“The Paris Agreement requires interim targets and climate reporting on all aspects of government. States play a key role, with responsibility for power, land, transport and much more. WA remains the only state without a 2030 emissions reduction target and WA Labor’s 2050 climate legislation has stalled in Parliament — which shows WA is not serious about getting on with its Paris Agreement responsibilities.”
Banksia Awards nominations
Nominations for the country’s prestigious Banksia Awards by the Banksia Foundation are opening soon, with spots available for the NSW Sustainability Awards – Information Session on Wednesday, 21 May. The session features an impressive lineup of
- Ellis Blaikie from Bridge Housing – winner of the 2024 NSW Placemaking Award
- Jack Kensey from Hawkesbury City Council – winner of the 2024 NSW Large Business Sustainable Leadership Award
- Belinda Chellingworth – circular economy and waste consultant at BC Consulting
- Graz van Egmond – CEO of the Banksia Foundation
Murrumbidgee Council sidesteps developers for renewable energy
The Murrumbidgee Council in the Riverina region of NSW is one of the first councils to independently install off-grid public solar street lighting at the new residential development, River Red Gum estate at Darlington Point.
The council said it “side stepped” the developers and “big utility companies”, instead contracting solar lighting technology provider Leadsun Australia to provide its patented “all in one” solar light technology and installation.
The technology involves utilising LEDs, lithium batteries and wireless technology to store power for days while being remotely controlled, switches on with motion sensors and is monitored anywhere in the world.
Electric air taxis are closing in on you
California-based Joby Aviation, a company developing electric air taxis for commercial passenger service, has completed its first full transition flight from vertical to cruise flight and then back, with a licensed pilot onboard.
The ability to transition from vertical flight to horizontal flight is a key design aspect of the aircraft, “allowing it to take off and land vertically like a helicopter, while maintaining the efficiency and speed of a conventional, fixed-wing aircraft in forward flight,” the company said.
This was seen as a milestone on its way to launching commercial services in Dubai. Since launching its prototype in 2017, its aircraft has completed more than 40,000 miles (around 64,300 kilometres) of test flights, including in New York City, Japan, and Korea.
Queensland government buckles on environment
The Crisafulli government, which moved backwards on environmental targets for the Brisbane Olympics, has now also reneged on a pre-election funding pledge to the Environmental Defenders Office, cutting its $500,000 commitment that funded two solicitors with specialist environment and planning law expertise.
Farmers, First Nations people and regional communities will no longer be able to seek free legal advice, said EDO chief executive David Morris.
He pointed to promises by Sam O’Connor, then Shadow Environment, in an email to EDO Cairns and Far North Environment Centre director Lucy Graham:
“… you can share the commitment I made to continue funding the EDO if the LNP is successful at the election this October with whoever you like!
“Queenslanders care about their local environment so landholders and communities deserve some form of access to legal advice when potential threats arise to the special places they love.
“While we will not agree with everything the EDO does, we believe the state government should continue to provide funding towards their operations just like they do with other community legal services.”
See this related article: Brisbane 2032 is no longer legally bound to be ‘climate positive’. Will it still leave a green legacy?