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Recorded on 04.11.2020

Climate scientists have been warning us for decades that we face a climate emergency, and that we are traveling toward catastrophic tipping points. In the past couple of years, more and more local, state and national governments across the globe made climate emergency declarations to acknowledge the action which is required to be taken. This momentum has carried over into built environment industries, with Architects, Engineers, Planners, and Builders Declare programs formalising a collective commitment and pledge working practices which drives positive impact through the buildings, infrastructure and cities we create.

Many have now ‘DECLARED’, but now what? What actions and approaches must organisations execute to ensure they meet this commitment toward climate action? How can these organisations keep themselves and their fellow signatories accountable to ensure this is not an empty promise?

Please join the ASBN and South Australians committed to address our climate emergency in a discussion to progress the built environment Declare movements in our state.

Our distinguished panel includes:

// Cary Duffield - Director Troppo Architects – Australian Architects Declare SA Representative
// Cathy Chesson - Technical Lead Sustainability at Mott MacDonald – Australian Engineers Declare signatory
// Michael McKeown - Director at JensenPLUS
// Jackson Digney - Director of Enduro Builders - Australian Builders Declare signatory
// Amanda Balmer - Director at WAX Design

New Zealand carbon allowances notched their second consecutive session of all-time highs on Monday, as a lack of available supply and expectations that the market will move higher keep pushing prices up.

Exclusive: authors find ‘no clear social equity problem related to low-traffic neighbourhoods’ after studying slew of projects sparked by Covid restrictions

• ‘I got it wrong. Since the changes it’s become more vibrant’: life in an LTN
• Mythbusters: eight common objections to LTNs – and why they are wrong
• Read more in our Green streets series

There is no evidence schemes that try to limit “rat-running” traffic along residential streets disproportionately benefit better-off households, research has concluded, contradicting a common view cited by objectors.

A study of low-traffic neighbourhoods (LTNs), which have mushroomed as part of efforts to boost walking and cycling amid coronavirus, found that the vast majority of people lived on streets that could be part of such schemes.

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Expansion of energy-from-waste incineration could stop UK hitting its net zero carbon target, campaigners warn

Carbon emissions from waste disposal are increasing because of the expansion of energy-from-waste incineration plants, a coalition of campaigners has warned.

By 2030 the government’s push to increase incineration of waste will increase CO2 emissions by 10m tonnes a year, mostly from the burning of plastics, the groups said. They argue that the growth in energy-from-waste incineration means the UK will not be able to meet its commitment to net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

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Consultation with firms in England on mandatory reporting deferred to 2021

A government consultation that could force companies to publish details of how much food they waste has been delayed until next year, triggering criticism by campaigners that ministers are using the pandemic as an excuse to stall efforts to drive down the amount thrown away.

The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) had this month been due to consult on mandatory food waste reporting in England, but has put the exercise on hold because of the disruption caused to the food and drink industry by Covid-19.

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More than two-thirds of UN member states have declared they are open to a new agreement to stem the rising tide of plastic waste

Support is growing internationally for a new global treaty to tackle the plastic pollution crisis, it has emerged, though so far without the two biggest per capita waste producers – the US and the UK – which have yet to signal their participation.

A UN working group on marine litter and microplastics met at a virtual conference last week to discuss the issue. More than two-thirds of UN member states, including African, Baltic, Caribbean, Nordic and Pacific states, as well as the EU, have declared they are open to considering the option of a new agreement.

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Analysis shows the Coalition's "gas led recovery" delivers little for Australian manufacturers, with virtually all of Australia's increased gas supply heading offshore.

The post Morrison’s “gas-led recovery” offers little for local manufacturers, TAI argues appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Buffel grass causes just as much damage to native wildlife as feral cats. But with the right control measures, biodiversity can bounce back. Christine Schlesinger, Senior Lecturer in Environmental Science and Ecology, Charles Darwin University Ellen Ryan-Colton, PhD candidate, Charles Darwin University Jennifer Firn, Professor, Queensland University of Technology John Read, Associate Lecturer, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, University of Adelaide Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Plans for hydrogen production facility near Kalbarri, supplied by 5,000MW of solar and wind projects, wins backing of Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners.

The post Massive W.A. renewable hydrogen project signs up Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners appeared first on RenewEconomy.

The 200MW Wellington solar farm in central NSW has started sending small amounts of power to the grid.

The post Oil giant BP’s first solar farm in Australia powers up in western NSW appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Steel giant BlueScope to invest $20m in pivot towards local manufacturing of wind and solar components, anticipating a surge of demand in NSW.

The post BlueScope pivots to green energy, to make steel for wind and solar transition appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Grattan Institute argues gas will only ever play a part role in Australia's electricity system, and Morrison should cease 'indulging in wishful thinking'.

The post Gas will be backstop at best, despite Morrison’s “wishful thinking”, Grattan says appeared first on RenewEconomy.

PF Olsen is looking for an ETS specialist for its consulting team.

Ekos Kamahi is looking for a carbon forestry consultant/senior consultant.

Work with a team to develop new soil carbon projects, execute project management outcomes for optimal soil carbon sequestration, provide a high level of ongoing service to farmers and other landowners, as well as collect and maintain data according to best practice procedures.

This role will have dual responsibility of securing new carbon projects and building a pipeline of environmental projects across Queensland.

Phil Davies leads a global campaign to claim ownership of the planet by improving its atmosphere.

We identify a few harmless spiders you've probably seen around the house and backyard — and a few that are best avoided. Lizzy Lowe, Postdoctoral researcher, Macquarie University Samantha Nixon, PhD, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The president-elect will on the whole seek a return to the status quo ante – a relief to US allies

Donald Trump is a “symptom of malaise, and decline, and decay” in the US, his former top Russia expert Fiona Hill has observed. If some countries have thus seized upon his presidency as an opportunity, many have been horrified.

Few US elections were watched quite as anxiously as this one around the world. Widespread relief at Joe Biden’s victory is evident. Much foreign policy, unlike domestic, can be enacted by executive order, without the backing of the Senate. At the most basic level, he will be a president who is patient enough to read a report and knowledgeable enough to understand it; who grasps that America cannot prosper alone; who does not lavish praise on dictators while humiliating democratic allies; who listens to his own intelligence services over Vladimir Putin; and who will entrust Middle East policy to seasoned officials rather than his son-in-law.

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Record auction price for New Kim beats last year’s €1.252m for Armando, another Belgian

A two-year-old Belgian racing pigeon called New Kim set a world record of €1.6m (£1.4m) at an auction that ended on Sunday, the online auction house said.

Offers for the pigeon had already hit €1.32m in the past week, surpassing the previous record of €1.252m set in March 2019 for another Belgian pigeon, Armando. They then went higher in a frantic last 30 minutes of bidding on Sunday.

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