Green jobs in Australia: what are we talking about?
24 February, 2010 by RMIT University, AustraliaEveryone is talking about ‘green jobs’, but just what do we mean by green jobs?
Letting the bugs out
24 February, 2010Farmers and growers around Australia are increasingly using bugs to reduce pest problems and increase efficiencies.
Steel credit revision to drive best practice steel production
23 February, 2010The Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) has released the draft of a revised Green Star Steel Credit which aims to drive best practice steel production and fabrication, and encourage dematerialisation of steel in structural applications in Australia.
Greening Australia's metal industry
09 February, 2010Leading scientists are gathering at Swinburne University of Technology this week to discuss ways to improve the sustainability of the metallurgical industry.
Capitalism in question
04 February, 2010The merits of capitalism and what form of economic governance is needed post crisis is at the centre of a review by a Griffith University sustainability expert.
Producing plastic without fossil fuels
01 February, 2010A team of South Korean scientists claim to have succeeded in producing the polymers used for everyday plastics through bioengineering, rather than through the use of fossil fuel-based chemicals. This research, which may now allow for the production of environmentally conscious plastics, is published in two papers in the journal Biotechnology and Bioengineering to mark the journal’s 50th anniversary.
Wastewater algae to biocrude oil
27 January, 2010 byIn November, the New Zealand Minister for Energy and Resources, Hon Gerry Brownlee, opened what is claimed to be the largest wastewater algae to biocrude oil demonstration project in the world.
Glaciologist responds to doubts over Himalayan melt
25 January, 2010The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is reexamining a report it issued that suggests Himalayan glaciers could vanish by 2035.
Water concerns still strong in cities
21 December, 2009A Newspoll conducted for the Smart Approved Water Mark has found more than 90% of respondents in the five capital cities surveyed still think the water situation is at least "somewhat serious".
Plastic produced without the use of fossil fuels
24 November, 2009A team of South Korean scientists has succeeded in producing the polymers used for everyday plastics through bioengineering, rather than through the use of fossil fuel-based chemicals.
Supercomputer launched at ANU
24 November, 2009The Commonwealth government is providing $26 million towards Australia’s newest research supercomputer, to be hosted at the Australian National University.
Human emissions rise 2% despite GFC
19 November, 2009Despite the economic effects of the global financial crisis (GFC), carbon dioxide emissions from human activities rose 2% in 2008 to an all-time high of 1.3 tonnes of carbon per capita per year, according to a paper published in Nature Geoscience.
Chemical-free cleaning technology study demonstrates environmental sustainability
27 October, 2009In an independent study conducted by the environmental sustainability group EcoForm, Tennant’s ec-H2O technology has been shown to significantly reduce environmental footprints when compared to traditional cleaning with chemicals.
Geoengineering no replacement for reducing greenhouse gas emissions
22 September, 2009The Royal Society of London has released a major report on geoengineering - "the deliberate and large-scale intervention in the Earth's climate system, in order to moderate global warming". In this article, The Royal Society of New Zealand provides commentary on the UK report, highlighting issues of particular relevance to New Zealand.
Tax offset changes to boost R&D
11 September, 2009The Rudd government has taken a significant first step towards the biggest reform to business innovation support for more than a decade with the passing of the Tax Laws Amendment Bill (2009 Measures no 4).
