ESG Snapshot: Issue 4
Highlights include NSW EPA resource recovery reforms, a Tasmanian Bill to ensure the hydrogen industry will have water access, and WA changes to streamline clean energy project approvals.
Events include an investor climate change summit, and a wastewater system design workshop. Jobs include roles with Snowy Hydro, EPA Victoria, SA Power Networks, Santos and DCCEEW.
ESG Snapshot is a concise weekly update for C-suite executives and sustainability and climate professionals in Australia.
ESG Snapshot is produced by the Business Council of Sustainable Development Australia (BCSDA), which is the local network partner of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development.
News items are listed by jurisdiction. However, they can also be searched by relevant SDG category. To do this, go to the SDG key at the end of this issue and click on the SDG icon that is of interest to you.
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CDP, which collects corporate sustainability data on behalf of institutional investors, has released its latest Global Forests Report.
The International Energy Agency has released its latest edition of Tracking Clean Energy Progress, as well as a new Clean Energy Technology Guide and a Clean Energy Demonstration Projects Database.
The IEA has also released its first annual Critical Minerals Markets Review.
The EU will from now on mark 15 July as the Annual EU Day for the Victims of the Global Climate Crisis.
The seven members of The Investor Agenda, which include Australia's Investor Group on Climate Change, have issued an updated Investor Climate Action Plans Expectations Ladder.
The World Business Council for Sustainable Development has issued a white paper on circularity in the fashion industry, and has launched a new fashion industry circularity collaboration.
The Climate Change Authority has released its latest Corporate Emissions Reduction Transparency (CERT) report, with 25 companies and organisations this year opting-in to the disclosure scheme. Participants include AGL, Aldi, Aurizon, ANZ, Baybrick, Coles, the Commonwealth Bank, Dexus, Downer, Fletcher Building, Fortescue, Lendlease, Mirvac, Orica, Pioneer Sail Holdings, Transurban, Westpac, Woodside and Woolworths.
Consultation opportunity. The ACCC has published draft guidance on environmental and sustainability claims, with comments due by 15 September.
The federal government has appointed climate change and disaster management expert Dr Robert Glasser to lead an independent review of National Natural Disaster Governance Arrangements, which will make recommendations on preparing for increasing future natural disasters.
Federal, state and territory agriculture ministers have released the first National Statement on Climate Change and Agriculture.
Minister Chris Bowen has declared an area offshore from the NSW Hunter Region to be suitable for offshore electricity infrastructure.
The Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) has issued an engineering roadmap to 100% renewables, which lists FY24 priority actions.
Agriculture Minister Murray Watt has released the report of an independent review of APVMA, the agvet chemicals regulator, which has found signs of "chemical industry capture". The government has now appointed Ken Matthews to evaluate APVMA's structure and governance. APVMA's chief executive and chair have resigned in recent days.
The Centre of Decommissioning Australia, which advises on decommissioning ageing oil and gas infrastructure, has appointed Deloitte to conduct a national skills review study, to be completed by the end of the year. A separate study on the optimal location for a WA infrastructure decommissioning and recycling facility is due to be completed soon.
Consultation opportunity. Submissions are due by 29 September to a Senate Economics Standing Committee inquiry into residential electrification.
ARENA has awarded a $32.1 million grant to Rio Tinto to support a $111.1 million trial of hydrogen calcination technology at the company's Yarwun alumina facility in Gladstone.
Consultation opportunity. The federal government is seeking views by 3 August on its planned $2 billion Hydrogen Headstart program, which aims to support the deployment of up to 1GW of electrolyser capacity by 2030.
Grant opportunity. ARENA has invited expressions by 1 November for grants under a $30 million funding initiative to reduce emissions in the aviation sector.
Consultation opportunity. The federal government is seeking views by 18 August on a proposed revamp of the national hydrogen strategy.
Consultation opportunity. The Independent Expert Scientific Committee (IESC) on Coal Seam Gas and Large Coal Mines has released draft updated guidelines on the information that proponents should provide to the Committee. Submissions close on 18 August.
Consultation opportunity. DCCEEW is consulting on regulating waste from small electrical items and PV infrastructure, with submissions due by 23 July.
ACCUs last traded on the spot market at $29.00, with spot Human-Induced Regeneration ACCUs trading at $30.50, according to broker Jarden.
Grant opportunity. Applications are open until 24 July for grants to land managers under the $17.5 million federal Carbon Farming Outreach program.
Eligible primary producers can now treat certain income they receive on or after 1 July 2022 from eligible ACCUs and carbon abatement activities as primary production income for the purposes of the Farm Management Deposit Scheme and Tax Averaging rules.
Consultation opportunity. The Australian Bureau of Statistics and the DCCEEW invite comments by 31 July on a prototype dashboard to support environmental-economic accounting in Australia.
Grant opportunity. Farmers and other landholders can now apply for the next round of funding under the state's Carbon Farming Advice Scheme, which provides grants of up to $10,000 to obtain carbon farming advice from approved advisors.
The state government has awarded Alpha HPA a $21 million Industry Partnership Program grant to develop stage two of its $300 million facility in Gladstone, so the company can move to full-scale production of high purity alumina.
Consultation opportunity. The state government is seeking views on options to better protect the Queensland section of the Lake Eyre Basin, with comments due by 25 August.
The EPA has released its response to the Wilkinson review of the state's resource recovery framework.
The state government has appointed Kiersten Fishburn as secretary of the Department of Planning and Environment, a role she has been acting in since May.
Consultation opportunity. Submissions are due by 4 August on an IPART issues paper on NSW's biodiversity credit market.
Award opportunity. Nominations are now being accepted for the 2023 NSW Sustainability Awards. Entries close 8 September.
The ACT government has appointed seven experts to its new Renewable Energy Innovation Fund Industry Advisory Board. The Board will be chaired by professor Ken Baldwin, director of the ANU's Energy Change Institute.
Consultation opportunity. The Essential Services Commission is seeking submissions by 27 July on a proposed enforceable code of practice for electricity transmission companies accessing private land.
Statutory development and consultation opportunity. A draft Water Miscellaneous Amendments (Delegation and Industrial Water Supply) Bill will enable Tasmanian Irrigation to enter into contracts for the supply of water for hydrogen production at sites such as the Bell Bay Green Hydrogen Hub. Submissions are due by 8 August.
Award opportunity. Nominations close 1 August for the EPA Sustainability Awards.
The state government has appointed Hugh Christie as the inaugural chief executive of the Tasmanian Waste and Resource Recovery Board. The Board is chaired by former NSW environment minister Pam Allan.
Consultation opportunity. Comments are due by 13 August on the state government's green paper on the energy transition.
The state government is establishing a Green Energy Major Projects Group within the Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation to help steer hydrogen and other green energy projects through approvals processes. It will also establish a Green Energy Expert Panel to provide the EPA with relevant information.
Consultation opportunity. Submissions are due by 11 August to Parliament's Public Accounts committee inquiry into how the state government's progress in achieving ESG outcomes is assisting international investment. The committee will report in August next year.
The state government has welcomed the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Western Green Energy Hub - which aims to produce 3.5 million tonnes of green hydrogen annually from its project in WA's Goldfields-Esperance region - and Korea Electric Power Corp.
The state government has provided a total of $6.5 million through its Infrastructure Grants program to 21 e-waste projects.
The state government has issued a new strategy to manage feral cats.
Consultation opportunity. The EPA is inviting comments by 20 July on whether a research pilot project in the Gulf of Carpentaria, proposed by Blue Carbon S2C Pty Ltd, should undergo environmental assessment.
Consultation opportunity. The EPA is inviting submissions on whether to assess the proposed clearing of 4,517 hectares of land on Mathison Station, with comments due by 26 July.
Consultation opportunity. The Territory government is inviting submissions by 4 August on a proposed new mineral royalty scheme.
ANU is offering a climate essentials professional short course on 15 August.
The Monash Sustainable Development Institute is running a two-day course on climate change and business risk, on July 19 and 20 ($2,970).
LRQA is offering training courses on the ISO50001 standard on energy management.
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