The Government of Japan has proposed to declare 2011-2020 the ‘UN Decade of Biodiversity’ in an attempt to increase global efforts to stop the current environmental crisis. The proposal came during the UN General Assembly’s first-ever day dedicated to discussing biodiversity.

Papyrus Australia, the developer of a technology that converts the waste trunk of the banana palm into alternatives to forest wood products, has been announced as a finalist in the 2010 Banksia Awards.

The Foodtech Packtech event, to be held at Auckland’s ASB Showgrounds between 12 and 14 October, is said to showcase technology available to the food, beverage and packaging industries.

Apart from reducing carbon emissions, green buildings can also play an important role in providing affordable housing, job creation and disaster recovery, according to a new report from the World Green Building Council (WorldGBC) launched 19 September at the start of World Green Building Week.

GHD’s engineer Andrew Bagnall has been named the Engineers Australia Young Engineer of the Year (Newcastle) at a function held on 10 September at Newcastle City Hall.

A new statewide accredited training program, Sustainable Painting Practices, is now available for WA painting contractors and retailers to help them reduce waste, encourage recycling and provide advice in sustainable products.

The Gillard government will invest $63 million to bring production of Toyota’s next-generation, four-cylinder engine for the Camry and Hybrid Camry to Australia.

A New Zealand environmental scientist has won a top international science prize for her contribution to the development of a simple, inexpensive test which measures arsenic levels in drinking water, and which has the potential to improve the lives of millions of people worldwide.

A multibillion-dollar environmental funding program has been previewed at one of the largest ever gatherings in Australia of environmental experts.

The Banksia Awards, a prestigious Australian environmental awards series, has announced a record number of finalists for its 2010 awards. The biggest growth in submissions occurs in the big business award category.

Origin Energy Limited (Origin), as part of a consortium, has been successful in bidding for a geothermal exploration concession in Northern Sumatra, Indonesia.

The CEO of Lend Lease Australia, Rod Leaver, has been named as the new chairman of the National Business Leaders Forum on Sustainable Development, a peak business advocacy group which represents Australian business in the environment and social sustainability spheres.

The proposed Green Star - Communities rating tool is set to become a voluntary national standard. Every state and territory Government Land Organisation in Australia has agreed to a memorandum of understanding which will support the development of the Green Building Council of Australia’s rating tool for sustainable communities.

A full-day seminar called 'Optimisation of energy efficiency in pumping systems' is being held by Pump Industry Australia on 7 October 2010 at the Auditorium, Engineers Australia, 21 Bedford Street, North Melbourne.

A new national peak industry lobby organisation has been launched in Sydney at the Australasian Industrial Ecology Conference.