The Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities has released the report ‘Role and performance of local government - waste and recycling related data and information’. [ + ]

QMI Solutions will be running a breakfast clinic on how to improve energy and water efficiency for manufacturers in the lead-up to the carbon tax. It will be held at the Burke & Wills Hotel in Toowoomba on Wednesday 13 June 2012 from 7.00 to 9.30 am. [ + ]

The Australian Government has introduced the Greenhouse and Energy Minimum Standards (GEMS) legislation to parliament. The GEMS legislation is an important initiative that implements a 2009 commitment by the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) to introduce national legislation to regulate equipment energy efficiency and to expand energy-efficiency regulation into new product areas. [ + ]

The organisers of this year’s ENVIRO Conference and Exhibition have announced the finalists for a national competition to find Australia’s most cutting-edge sustainable innovation. The winner will be announced at the ENVIRO event, which is taking place on 24-26 July in Adelaide. [ + ]

Researchers at The University of Western Australia will investigate the use of geothermal energy to desalinate groundwater in WA. [ + ]

The House Economics Committee has recommended that Parliament pass the bills that establish a Clean Energy Finance Corporation, bring gaseous fuels under the carbon pricing mechanism and make other changes to improve the mechanism’s operation. [ + ]

More than 70 participants from Australian and overseas universities and professional accounting bodies attended the Accounting for Sustainability Conference at RMIT University on 28 May. [ + ]

Discoveries made during PhD studies by Victoria University graduate Emma Dangerfield could revolutionise the pharmaceutical industry by allowing drugs to be made in a more environmentally friendly way. [ + ]

The inaugural CleanEnviro Summit Singapore (CESS) is a global platform for government leaders, policymakers, regulators and industry captains to connect, examine and discover practical solutions to address environmental challenges for tomorrow’s cities. [ + ]

The Clean Energy Regulator and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) have signed a memorandum of understanding on the working relationship between the two agencies to deliver their regulatory responsibilities under the carbon pricing mechanism. [ + ]

Iron nanoparticles encapsulated in a rust-preventing polymer coating could hold incredible potential for cleaning up groundwater contaminated with toxic chemicals, a leading water expert says. [ + ]

A proposed new ASTM International standard describes a method for calculating the length of time that a non-fuel mineral commodity can be extracted from its reserves and resources, for purposes of environmental product declarations (EPD) and life cycle analyses (LCA). [ + ]

A University of Adelaide scientist believes it is inevitable that Australia will become a user of the world’s most advanced nuclear power technology, if the country is serious about cutting carbon emissions. [ + ]

The European Environment Agency (EEA) has published data revealing that greenhouse gas emissions increased in 2010, as a result of both economic recovery in many countries after the 2009 recession and a colder winter. Nonetheless, emissions growth was somewhat contained by continued strong growth in renewable energy sources. [ + ]

A new Australian recycling company, Relivit, has won a major international business award, further boosting its credentials and propelling it into a new phase of growth in the local market. [ + ]