Carbon sink operator CO2 Australia experienced a surge of interest in June from landholders wanting to find out more about the Carbon Farming Initiative (CFI). Now that the carbon tax and CFI are officially in operation, CO2 Australia predicts a further increase in enquiries from landholders wishing to participate in the scheme. [ + ]

waterAustralia, in partnership with the Industry Capability Network (ICN), has appointed Rubin Mallows Worldwide to represent the Australian water industry in the USA. The appointment is part of a strategy being funded under the Commonwealth Government’s Supplier Access to Major Projects program administered by the ICN. [ + ]

Out of 977 dairy farms in Canterbury, New Zealand, 70% achieved full compliance with dairy shed effluent consent conditions in the latest season, up from 65% in the previous season. [ + ]

$75,000 has been awarded to 17 schools and community groups across the country to undertake educational environment projects. The funding was made available through the Go Green Grants program, an initiative launched by Corporate Express and Junior Landcare earlier this year. [ + ]

The ‘Australian Water Supplier Compact’ (the compact) was launched in April to bring together local suppliers and urban utilities to maximise benefits for the Australian water industry, the economy and for the environment.The compact records the expression of commitment by Australia’s urban water utilities, represented by the Water Services Association of Australia (WSAA) and Australian companies that supply into the water sector, represented by waterAustralia and the Water Supplier Advocate. [ + ]

Former Chief Defence Scientist Professor Robert Clark has been appointed to the newly created Chair of Energy Strategy and Policy at the University of New South Wales. [ + ]

Residential solar PV will be around as long as the sun shines, but long-term growth could be constrained by the limits of the electricity network. That’s the conclusion of energy research specialist Energeia, which recently found that the the residential solar PV market is falling 56% in 2012, after growing 58% in 2011. [ + ]

The $200 million Clean Technology Innovation Program will provide opportunities for Australian businesses to find innovative ways of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. [ + ]

International sustainable resins supplier Cardia Bioplastics and rigid plastic packaging company Alto Packaging have announced a strategic partnership to produce high-performance packaging solutions, manufactured with Cardia’s novel thermoplastic starch resins and thus carrying environmental benefits. [ + ]

Victoria’s Smart Water Fund has enlisted the methane-producing potential of algae and Flinders University expertise in a move to reduce the carbon emissions and the power bills of the state’s water sector through increased renewable energy use. [ + ]

A total of 115 Australians have been awarded 2012 Churchill Fellowships for a diverse range of research projects, with a number focusing their attention on enriching our knowledge and practice in the areas of environment and sustainability. [ + ]

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has accepted informal undertakings from Polaris Solar and ACT Renewable Energy for claims regarding the impact of the carbon price on household electricity prices that the ACCC considered were likely to mislead. [ + ]

Supported by a grant from The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) Emerging Renewables Program, BlueScope Steel will develop a low-cost building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) system for Australian residential, commercial and industrial rooftops. [ + ]

Schneider Electric, a global specialist in energy management, today announced it is integrating Data Centre University, the globally recognised online resource of data centre courses, with its online, free, vendor-neutral, energy-efficiency learning program, Energy University. [ + ]

A study released today by carbon analytics firm RepuTex indicates that companies liable under the carbon price mechanism will pay up to 45% less than initially expected, with cost savings totalling over $10bn translating into significantly reduced carbon price impacts for Australian consumers and regional commodities buyers. [ + ]