Next month Montreal in Canada will host the 15th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP15). Despite attracting less headlines than its climate change COP-counterparts, COP15 has particular significance as the parties seek to settle a post-2020 global biodiversity framework. This framework will guide the next decade of action on biodiversity. Read more

The 2023 Federal Budget has promised increased funding and programs supporting climate and environmental initiatives. Snapshot This is the first Federal Budget since the Government committed Australia to a 43% emissions reduction target by 2030 and net zero by 2050 and the release of the State of the Environment Report.  The Budget contains key funding … Read more

Australia is set for new climate legislation after Parliament passed the Climate Change Bill 2022 and the Climate Change (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2022 (together, the Climate Bills). The Climate Bills will come into force following royal assent. Read more

On 29 August 2022, the independent expert panel (Review Panel) who is reviewing the integrity of Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) under the Emissions Reduction Fund (ERF) began seeking submissions from a diverse range of stakeholders. The Review Panel is seeking feedback on the integrity of ACCUs and the broader impacts of activities incentivised under the ACCU scheme framework. Read more

The Federal Government has announced the creation of the BCS which, according to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, will be the start of a “nationwide restoration” of Australia’s environment. The BCS will be designed to grant tradeable biodiversity certificates to landholders who restore or manage local habitat. The market will be open to all landholders, including first nations people and conservation groups. Read more

By Melanie Debenham Episode 19 – Recycle, Recovery and Reduce with Neometals Melanie Debenham is joined by Anél Joubert, ESG Manager and Jeremy McManus, GM Commercial and Investor Relations from Neometals, an emerging and sustainable producer of battery minerals. Anél and Jeremy discuss the prominence of ESG in their own roles and across Neometals’ markets … Read more

Government has announced that it will review the operation of the Safeguard Mechanism with a view to reducing greenhouse gas emissions from Australia’s highest emitting facilities. Comments on the discussion paper are due by 20 September 2022, with key issues in the discussion paper being calculation of baselines, the use of crediting mechanisms. Read more

The Federal Government has tabled its Climate Change Bill 2022 (the Bill) which – if passed – will enshrine into law the Government’s emissions reduction targets. A second bill, the Climate Change (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2022 (the Amendments Bill) would define these targets as objectives of a range of government agencies and programs. Read more