Australia’s emissions surge again, and now well behind Paris trajectory

Australia is falling further behind its Paris emission reduction targets, as the latest emissions estimate from consultancy NDEVR Environmental shows a surge in the first quarter of 2019, increasing the gap between Australia’s emissions and the trajectory that the government insists will be met “in a canter”.

Australia falling further behind its Paris targets.

In the first three months of 2019, NDEVR estimates in the latest edition of its ‘Tracking 2 Degrees Report’ that Australia’s emissions jumped by 3.4 million tonnes CO2-e compared to the same period a year prior, or around 2.5%.

The emissions increase was driven by a substantial increase in electricity emissions, which jumped 8.2%, due to a slight fall in renewable electricity and a rise in fossil fuel generation.

Read the RenewEconomy story by Michael Mazengarb - “Australia’s emissions surge again, and now well behind Paris trajectory.”

Mining firm in talks with government over Clean Energy Finance Corporation oil field funding proposal.

Resources Minister Matt Canavan said carbon
capture and storage can cut emissions and
 retain access to coal-fired power.

The company behind an Australian-first plan to use pollution from power stations to extract oil says taxpayers should help fund the project, despite criticism that it uses an unproven and expensive technology.

The Turnbull government has been in talks with the proponent over the venture, and believes such technologies can lower carbon emissions while keeping coal-fired power stations running.

Read Nicole Hasham’s story from The Age - “Mining firm in talks with government over Clean Energy Finance Corporation oil field funding proposal.”

Green developers say $100,000 award will help them build a village

The group behind a series of "deep green" inner-city apartment projects – which attempt to cut profit-driven developers out of the construction process to reduce housing costs – has won a $100,000 state government award to push ahead with their latest project.

Architects Fairley Batch (left) and Rachel Nolan on the
 site of what will become Nightingale Village.

Nightingale Housing will on Thursday be given the first grant from the Andrews government's $1 million "Social Impact Investment" sustainability fund.

The not-for-profit organisation was established to share knowledge and support architects, who often invest in the projects. Profits are capped at 15 percent - far less than is normal in the Australian development sector.

Read the story in today’s Age by Clay Lucas - “Green developers say $100,000 award will help them build a village.”