Allens Arthur Robinson

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Victoria plans to reduce its carbon emissions by 20 per cent compared to 2000 levels by 2020, decreasing greenhouse emissions generated by brown coal power plants by up to four million tonnes by 2014. In the absence of a federal Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme, the Brumby Government claims that the strategies in its Victorian Climate Change White Paper will make Victoria the national leader in addressing the challenges associated with climate change. Partner Grant Anderson, Senior Associate Charlie Harrison and Law Graduate Natasha McNamara report

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Last week, the Gillard Government announced its election promises, including its intention to introduce various measures designed to promote energy efficiency in business and industry. In part one of this Focus Partner Chris Schulz and Lawyer Nadia Harrison outline policy announcements on coal-fired power stations, light vehicles and tax deductions for expenditure on commercial buildings. In part two theyprovide an update on the progress of the recently enacted energy efficiency disclosure regime for commercial buildings

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The loss of momentum post-Copenhagen does not necessarily mean all carbon pollution reduction activity has stalled. Partner Anna Collyer and Law Graduate Natasha McNamara report on legislation that splits Australia's enhanced Renewable Energy Target scheme into separate large and small-scale schemes

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The Federal Government announced this week the formulation of a Renewable Energy Future Fund. Partner Anna Collyer speaks to Boardroom Radio about the possible impact of the fund on the renewable energy industry

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With last week's announcement by the Federal Government that the carbon pollution reduction scheme will not be introduced until at least 2013, regulatory initiatives designed to promote energy efficiency are likely to play an even greater role in Australian climate change policy.As part of our series on energy efficiency, we outline some recent developmentsin the building sector and the work of the Prime Minister's Task Group on Energy Efficiency

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The Federal Government this week announced plans to delay its Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme until at least 2013. This unexpected backflip, which is inconsistent with the Government's previous strong rhetoric on the need for urgent action on climate change, will exacerbate industry uncertainty about the Government's climate change policy and damage Australia's international credibility. Partner Grant Anderson and Lawyer Fergus Green report

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Partner Anna Collyer recently chaired a Boardroom Radio roundtable discussion on the outlook for the geothermal industry. Anna spoke with Geodynamics Managing Director Gerry Grove-White and Australian Geothermal Energy Association Managing Director Susan Jeanes on a range issues relating to the geothermal industry

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New legislation was introduced into Federal Parliament recently which, if passed, would impose energy related disclosure obligations on those offering to sell, lease or sub-lease office buildings of 2000m2 or more. This Focus is the first in a series on the Federal Government's policies to promote energy efficiency. Partner Chris Schulz and Lawyer Nadia Harrison report

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Changes to the Renewable Energy Target scheme announced by the Federal Government will help progress projects to develop wind, solar and geothermal energy that have been on hold. Partner Grant Anderson and Lawyer Nick Buttner report

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After years of planning, months of great expectation, weeks of negotiation, days of drama and a crucial few final hours of exasperated deal-making, world leaders emerged late last Friday with a tentative political accord that sets out the broad framework from which a comprehensive treaty to address climate change may eventually emerge. Partner Grant Anderson and Lawyer Fergus Green report on the outcome of the Copenhagen Conference and its implications for Australia

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Partner Grant Anderson and Lawyer Fergus Green review 13 Asian nations' climate change regimes

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Two recent decisions of Federal Courts of Appeal in different Circuits in the United States have reversed the trend in lower US Courts to allow claims for damages based on climate change to be brought under federal common law nuisance principles. A more recent third decision of a lower federal District Court in a different Circuit, however, is a reminder of the hurdles for any potential climate change plaintiffs. Partners Matthew Skinner and Annette Hughes and Lawyer Julie-Anne Pearce report

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Partner Grant Anderson looks at the changes proposed by the Federal Government to its Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme and compares them with the demands made by the Federal Opposition.

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The Federal Government has fulfilled its Kyoto Protocol obligations by establishing the Australian National Registry of Emissions Units and the Australian National Authority for the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) and Joint Implementation (JI). Australian individuals and organisations may now apply for registry accounts to hold and trade Kyoto units, as well as for approval to undertake CDM and JI projects. Partner Grant Anderson and Lawyer Amy Ward report

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The Senate has passed legislation to implement Australia's new expanded national renewable energy target scheme. Partner Grant Anderson and Lawyer Ben Strate report

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The Draft South East Queensland Climate Change Management Plan, which proposes actions to implement the climate change policies in the new South East Queensland Regional Plan, was recently released for public comment. Partner Bill McCredie, and Senior Associates Suzanne Westgate and Simon Batten report

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The Senate Standing Committee on Economics and the Senate Select Committee on Climate Policy have handed down their reports on the Federal Government's legislation to implement its proposed Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme. These reports reflect the seemingly entrenched views of political players who will determine the fate of the legislation when it is voted on in August, and underscore the likelihood that the Senate will not pass the legislation in its current form - at least this time around. We also look at the greenhouse gas legislation that has recently been passed by the US House of Representatives

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The Department of Climate Change has released draft regulations for public comment that set out the details of the emissions-intensive trade-exposed assistance program that is to form part of the Federal Government's proposed Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme. Partner Grant Anderson and Lawyer John Henderson report

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Last month, the Environment Protection and Heritage Council released the Environmental Guidelines for Carbon Dioxide Capture and Geological Storage - 2009. This followed the Federal Government's release of acreage and guidance notes for carbon capture and storage assessment under the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 (Cth) in March 2009. Partner Chris Schulz, Senior Associate Emily Gerrard and Lawyer Sarah Dynon explore the environmental and planning issues relevant to applications for assessment permits under the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act

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The Federal Government has introduced into Parliament legislation to implement its proposed Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme. The legislation as introduced has been modified in a number of respects from the exposure draft legislation that was released in March. Partner Grant Anderson reports.

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Partner Grant Anderson and Lawyer Ben Strate report on changes to the design of the expanded national Renewable Energy Target scheme that were agreed by COAG on 30 April 2009

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Recently, the Senate Standing Committee on Economics handed down its report on the draft legislation to implement the Federal Government's proposed Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme. While the Federal Government requires the support of either the Opposition or the Greens and the two independent senators for the legislation to pass, the positions of the non-Government parties (as outlined in the report) make it clear that there is some way to go before the Government is likely to achieve the necessary support. Partner Grant Anderson and Lawyer John Henderson report.

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The Federal Government has announced the world-first release of offshore areas for assessment as potential carbon injection and storage sites under the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 (Cth). Partner Anna Collyer reports on this significant development on one of the foundation elements of the Government's emissions reduction strategy

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Recently, amendment regulations have come into force that streamline the registration process for companies that are required to register and report under the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Scheme and that support the operation of amendments that have been made to the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Act. Partner Grant Anderson and Lawyer Nick Buttner report

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The New South Wales Government has released its Draft Sea Level Rise Policy Statement for public comment. The policy outlines the government's response to rising sea levels and the associated effects of climate change. Partner Jim Parker and Lawyer Fleur Ramsay report on the policy and consider potential implications for coastal planning, development and land ownership in NSW

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Yesterday afternoon the Federal Government released exposure draft legislation for its proposed Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS). While the draft legislation is extensive and submissions on it are due by 14 April, it closely mirrors the proposals put forward by the Government in its White Paper, Australia's Low Pollution Future, released on 15 December last year. These proposals are summarised in the nine-article series on the White Paper that is available in the Climate Change publications area of our website. Partner Grant Anderson reports

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Stand-alone carbon storage legislation commenced in Queensland last week. This follows the earlier leads of Victorian and federal (offshore) legislation and, at some 450 pages, provides a detailed regime for storage of greenhouse gases within Queensland territorial borders. Partner Ben Zillmann and Senior Associate Rochelle Carey report on some of the key features of the legislation

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Following on from our summary of the Federal Government's White Paper on its Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme, Australia's Low Pollution Future, Partner Jim Parker and Senior Associate Robyn Glindemann discuss in greater detail the White Paper's proposals on the treatment of forestry, agriculture, offsets and energy efficiency initiatives under the Scheme. This is the ninth and final in a series of articles that examines in more depth the principal proposals contained in the White Paper

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Following on from our summary of the Federal Government's White Paper on its Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme, Australia's Low Pollution Future, Partner Grant Cathro and Lawyer Penny Alexander discuss in detail the tax consequences of the proposed Scheme. This is the eighth in a series of articles that examines in more depth the principal proposals contained in the White Paper

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Following on from our summary of the Federal Government's White Paper on its Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme, Australia's Low Pollution Future, Partner Grant Anderson discusses in greater detail the implications of the White Paper proposals for the contractual provisions that should be included in supply contracts, outsourcing contracts and joint venture agreements. This is the seventh in a series of articles that examines in more depth the principal proposals contained in the White Paper

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Late last year, the Federal Government released a National Carbon Offset Standard Discussion Paper, together with a draft National Carbon Offset Standard. Partner Grant Anderson and Senior Associate Sarah Birrell describe the principal elements of the proposed standard, which has significant implications for the voluntary carbon market in Australia.

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Following on from our summary of the Federal Government's White Paper on its Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme, Australia's Low Pollution Future, Partner Anna Collyer and Lawyer Damien Hughes discuss in greater detail the treatment of carbon capture and storage under the Scheme. This is the sixth in a series of articles that examines in more depth the principal proposals contained in the White Paper

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Following on from our summary of the Federal Government's White Paper on its Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme, Australia's Low Pollution Future, Partner Grant Anderson and Lawyer John Henderson discuss in greater detail the emissions reduction targets and the use of international units proposed for the Scheme, and give some international context to these proposals. This is the fifth in a series of articles that examines in more depth the principal proposals contained in the White Paper

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Following on from our summary of the Federal Government's White Paper on its Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme, Australia's Low Pollution Future, Partner John Greig and Lawyers Emma Leske and Tim Dalton discuss in greater detail the White Paper proposals that are designed to facilitate the development of an efficient carbon market. This is the fourth in a series of articles that examines in more depth the principal proposals contained in the White Paper

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Following on from our summary of the Federal Government's White Paper on its Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme, Australia's Low Pollution Future, Partner Grant Anderson and Lawyer John Henderson discuss in greater detail the assistance that is to be provided to coal-fired electricity generators and the impact of the Scheme on the electricity industry. This is the third in a series of articles that examines in more depth the principal proposals contained in the White Paper

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Following on from our summary of the Federal Government's White Paper on its Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme, Australia's Low Pollution Future, Partner Grant Anderson discusses in greater detail the activities that will attract liability and the entities that will be liable under that scheme. This is the second in a series of articles that examines in more depth the principal proposals contained in the White Paper

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The Federal Department of Climate Change recently released an exposure draft of legislation and regulations for the Federal Government's proposed expanded national renewable energy target scheme. Partner Grant Anderson and Lawyer John Henderson look at the draft legislation and some associated proposals

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Following on from our summary of the Federal Government's White Paper on its Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme 'Australia's Low Pollution Future' , Partner Grant Anderson discusses in greater detail the assistance that is to be provided to emissions-intensive trade-exposed industries. This is the first in a series of articles that examines in more depth the principal proposals contained in the White Paper

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At midday, the Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, released the much-anticipated White Paper that outlines the Federal Government's Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme and the medium-term target for reducing national emissions

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The long-awaited enabling legislation for carbon capture and storage in Commonwealth offshore waters has been passed by the Federal Parliament. Partner Anna Collyer and Lawyer Damien Hughes look at the important last-minute Senate amendments to the legislation

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The Victorian Parliament has passed legislation to facilitate and regulate carbon capture and storage activities in onshore Victoria. The passage of the legislation is in advance of the Federal Government's 'offshore' carbon capture and storage Bill, which is currently before the Senate. Partner Anna Collyer, Senior Associate Peter O'Sullivan and Lawyer Damien Hughes report

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China's State Council Information Office recently released its White Paper on climate change. Partner Campbell Davidson and Lawyer Mark Harding report on this major policy statement from the Chinese Government

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Late last week the Treasurer and the Minister for Climate Change and Water released the long-awaited Commonwealth Treasury modelling on the economic impact on Australia of reducing greenhouse gas emissions over the medium and long term. Partner Grant Anderson discusses the outcomes of that modelling

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The need to meet new emissions reporting requirements in 2009 will require many organisations to procure new information technology systems or modify existing systems to provide enhanced reporting systems capability. Partner Niranjan Arasaratnam and Senior Associate Ken Shiu report on what needs to be done to comply with the reporting requirements

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Partner Anna Collyer and Senior Associate Cate Barlow look at the progress of an important piece of Commonwealth carbon capture legislation

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The Garnaut Climate Change Review's Final Report, which was released today, contains no surprises but simply confirms many of the findings and recommendations made in the Review's previous reports. Partner Grant Anderson reports

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Professor Ross Garnaut's Supplementary Draft Report released today proposes a 'soft approach' to emission reduction targets, with the development of a comprehensive international agreement being critical to Australia accepting increased targets. Partner Matthew Skinner and Senior Associate Suzanne Westgate report

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The Voluntary Carbon Standard 2007 is one of the most internationally recognised voluntary standards for earning carbon credits. Partner Campbell Davidson and Lawyer Mark Harding examine the Voluntary Carbon Standard as an alternative, or complement, to Clean Development Mechanism approval for greenhouse gas-reducing projects in the PRC

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In a landmark decision, the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal has refused development consent to a housing development in South Gippsland because of climate change considerations, including the threat of increasing storm severity and rising sea levels. Partner Paul Lalich, Lawyer Fleur Ramsay and Paralegal Madeleine Ellicott report on the decision

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The ACCC has released a guideline, Carbon claims and the Trade Practices Act, that is intended to inform both the providers and users of carbon offsets of their obligations under the Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth) where they make claims based on those carbon offsets. Partner Grant Anderson and Lawyer Adam Ross report

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Following on from our summary of the Federal Government's Green Paper on its proposed Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme released on 16 July 2008, Partner Grant Anderson discusses in greater detail the proposals regarding the design of that Scheme

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On 16 July 2008, the Minister for Climate Change and Water, Penny Wong, released a much-anticipated Green Paper that sets out the Federal Government's preferred model for Australia's proposed emissions trading scheme, to be known as the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme. Allens Arthur Robinson's Climate Change Group provides initial commentary on the key reforms proposed in the Green Paper

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On 2 July 2008, Federal Climate Change Minister Penny Wong released a discussion paper canvassing two regulatory approaches for an expanded national renewable energy target scheme. Partner Grant Anderson, Senior Associate Robyn Glindemann and Lawyer Jessica Moir look at the discussion paper

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Following on from his summary of the draft report of the Garnaut Climate Change Review released on 4 July 2008, Partner Grant Anderson discusses in greater detail some of the principal findings and recommendations of the draft report

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The eagerly awaited draft report of the Garnaut Climate Change Review was released at lunchtime today. Partner Grant Anderson and Senior Associate Suzanne Westgate provide initial commentary on the findings of the draft report

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On June 26, the Federal Climate Change Minister Penny Wong released the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Regulations 2008, providing important detail for companies who may be required to report under the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Scheme which commences on 1 July 2008. Partner Grant Anderson, Senior Associate Robyn Glindemann and Lawyer Jess Moir look at the new regulations

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The Federal Government has released its long-awaited exposure draft of the Offshore Petroleum Amendments (Greenhouse Gas Storage) Bill 2008. The Bill's purpose is to establish the framework for access to offshore geological storage formations, and the creation of property rights for greenhouse gas injection and storage activities in Commonwealth offshore waters. The Federal Government has described the legislation as being 'world first', and its terms will be subject to international scrutiny

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Partner Darren Murphy and Senior Associate Caitlin Westgarth report on the Federal Government's announcement to amend the Energy Efficiency Opportunities Regulations 2006 with effect from 1 July 2008 to avoid duplication with the reporting requirements under the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting System

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A number of developments in the US indicate that it is likely to enact a federal climate change law, including nationwide mandatory caps on greenhouse gas emissions and the establishment of a nationwide emissions trading scheme. This would have a significant flow-on effect to the world carbon market. Partner Seamus Cornelius and Lawyer Mark Harding provide an overview of these recent developments

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When the Federal Government implements the national emissions trading scheme (NETS), proposed to be in 2010, the New South Wales Greenhouse Gas Reduction Scheme (GGAS) will cease to operate. The NSW Government has released its long-awaited consultation paper on the possible transitional arrangements. Partner Andrew Mansour and Lawyer Andrew Daly outline the proposed transition options

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Professor Ross Garnaut has released his discussion paper on the design of an Australian emissions trading scheme. The proposals contained in the paper will be an important input into the design of the Federal Government's scheme and some of them are likely to engender vigorous debate. Partner Grant Anderson reports

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The extent to which climate change is relevant to major project assessment in NSW was recently examined by the NSW Land and Environment Court - this time in the context of 'flood impacts' and concept plan approvals under Part 3A of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (NSW). Partner Jim Parker and Senior Associate Suzanne Westgate review the court's recent decision in Walker v Minister of Planning and Anor

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Professor Garnaut's recently released interim report on the impact of climate change in Australia outlines the type of recommendations that may feature in the ultimate report which will be released in September this year. Partner Grant Anderson and Senior Associate Suzanne Westgate report

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The ACCC has released a guideline entitled Green Marketing and the Trade Practices Act that is intended to assist manufacturers, suppliers and advertisers to avoid making misleading claims about the environmental benefits of the products or services that they produce, supply or advertise. Partner Grant Anderson and Articled Clerk Adel Mohamed report

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The National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Act 2007 (Cth) provides the legislative framework for the operation of the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting System, which will be a key element of the proposed Australian emissions trading scheme. The Federal Government has released a policy paper that sets out the content of the regulations to be made under that Act. Partner Grant Anderson analyses the key points arising out of the paper

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The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has signalled that it will closely examine advertising containing references to carbon offsets and 'green' products to ensure that it is not misleading or deceptive. As part of its focus on this area, the ACCC has recently instituted proceedings in respect of particular advertisements and has also released an issues paper outlining its concerns over this form of advertising. Partner Grant Anderson and Lawyer Adam Ross report

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The Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) is potentially a useful tool for companies from developed nations, providing a cost-effective way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to generate an additional revenue stream for projects in developing nations. Partner Campbell Davidson and Lawyer Mark Harding provide an introduction to the CDM in China, which is currently one of the most attractive places for CDM investment

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Following two weeks of meetings, and a fractious plenary session that went all night, the 187 country participants at the 2007 Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Bali eventually agreed the 'Bali Action Plan' or 'road map'. Partner Grant Anderson outlines the principal components of the Bali Action Plan and the opportunities for Australian businesses now Australia has ratified the Kyoto Protocol.

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With climate change issues being one of the key agenda items for the newly elected ALP Federal Government, Partners Anna Collyer and Scott Langford and Senior Associate Hayley McNamara review the current status of the development of a legislative framework for the implementation of carbon capture and storage technologies in the Australian energy sector

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The National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Act 2007 came into operation on 28 September 2007. This Act provides the legislative framework for the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting System, which will be a key element of any Australian emissions trading scheme. A discussion paper on the proposed regulations that will fill out the details of the reporting system was released last week.

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Partners Matthew Skinner and Annette Hughes and Lawyer Jonathan Pagan look at three recent decisions - one in Australia and two from the US - dealing with climate change and the law

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The Prime Minister's Task Group on Emissions Trading has released a discussion paper for public comment on incentives for abatement in the period leading up to the commencement of a national emissions trading scheme in 2011. The Early Abatement Incentives Discussion Paper was released on the same day as the Prime Minister announced the new Commonwealth 30,000 gigawatt hours clean energy target by 2020 and comes amid mounting election pressure to take concrete steps to address climate change.

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The NSW Land and Environment Court has again examined the issue of the extent to which climate change impacts should be assessed for major project proposals. Partner Matthew Skinner, Senior Associate Felicity Rourke and Lawyer Elizabeth Lamaro review the court's decision in Drake-Brockman v Minister of Planning & Anor and comment on the guidance it provides on the assessment of greenhouse gas emissions for major development projects in NSW

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In addition to the newly launched Australian Climate Exchange that precedes the establishment of a national climate exchange market by the Federal Government, Australian companies are involved in generating and trading greenhouse gas emission reductions on international climate exchange markets.

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The Federal Government has taken an important step towards a national emissions trading scheme with the introduction of the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Bill 2007. Partner Ben Zillmann, Special Counsel Philip Murray and Lawyer Simon Batten report

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China's recently released National Climate Change Program focuses on reducing China's energy consumption per unit of GDP by encouraging growth of renewable and nuclear energy, energy conservation and clean technology sectors. It is also part of China's long-term strategy to develop its domestic high technology and low energy consuming sectors. Partner Campbell Davidson, Senior Associate Li Hong and Lawyer Mark Harding highlight the program's key aspects

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Since the NSW Land and Environment Court's landmark decision in November 2006 requiring the environmental assessment of the proposed Anvil Hill coal mine to consider the impact of downstream greenhouse gas emissions, the decision of the NSW Minister for Planning on whether the project should proceed has been eagerly awaited.

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The Prime Minister's Task Group on Emissions Trading has released its long-awaited findings. Partner John Greig and Senior Associate Suzanne Westgate provide initial commentary on the Task Group's findings

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Partner Matthew Skinner and Lawyer Julie-Anne Pearce report on a recent decision of the United States Supreme Court with potentially significant implications for greenhouse gas emitting industries

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As the question of using nuclear energy in Australia heats up, Partner Anna Collyer and Lawyer Jeremy Loeliger revisit the major aspects of the Federal Government's recent report on uranium mining, processing and energy

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The State Environmental Planning Policy (Mining, Petroleum Production and Extractive Industries) 2007, which was gazetted on 16 February 2007, should bring some welcome consistency to certain aspects of planning law to these industries across NSW. It may be of more limited assistance for coal and mineral sands miners. Senior Associate Felicity Rourke looks at the new policy

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In a landmark decision for the Queensland mining industry, the Queensland Land and Resources Tribunal has handed down its first ruling regarding greenhouse gas emissions. Lawyer Oliver Lawson and Partner Ben Zillmann report

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On 4 December 2006, the Threatened Species Conservation Amendment (Biodiversity Banking) Act 2006 commenced. This Act establishes a biodiversity offset and land banking scheme by which the NSW Government intends to introduce a market-based approach to addressing the impacts of expanding urban development on biodiversity. Partner Mark Stubbings and Lawyer Kristy Owen look at what the new NSW legislation means for landholders

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On 27 November 2006, the NSW Land and Environment Court handed down a landmark decision, finding that the developer of the proposed Anvil Hill coal mine had failed to adequately assess the climate change impacts of the mine. Partner Annette Hughes and Lawyer Julie-Anne Pearce consider the court's decision against the backdrop of an increasing awareness of the legal aspects of climate change

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On 20 September 2006, the State of California commenced an action in US federal court seeking compensation from six leading car manufacturers for contributing to global warming. Partner Annette Hughes and Lawyer Julie-Anne Pearce consider the relevant backdrop and emerging trend of suing industry for damages caused by emissions

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The National Emissions Trading Taskforce has released a blueprint of a proposed national greenhouse gas emissions trading scheme and is inviting consultation on the plan. Senior Associate Julie Freeman and Articled Clerk Alan Grinceri review the proposed scheme

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To give effect to various initiatives from its Our Environment, Our Future - Sustainability Action Statement 2006, the Victorian Government has introduced several pieces of legislation into Parliament, including the Environment Protection (Amendment) Bill. Senior Associate Meg Lee and Lawyer Caroline Ray report on the Bill, which will streamline the Environment Protection Act 1970 and give the Environment Protection Authority new efficiency and enforcement tools

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The Victorian Government has introduced a Bill to Parliament to create a renewable energy target scheme to supplement the Federal Government's mandatory renewable energy target. Partner Paul Kenny and Articled Clerk Alan Grinceri discuss the proposed VRET scheme

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We look at the latest changes to the Environmental Protection Act 1986 (WA) and the state's ambitious water reform

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The first challenge to the consideration of the effects of greenhouse gas emissions under the Commonwealth's environmental legislation has been dismissed by the Federal Court. Special Counsel Philip Murray and Lawyer Simon Batten report

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A number of important pronouncements were made at this month's COAG meeting about the ongoing reform of the energy sector. Partner Grant Anderson, Senior Associate Darren Murphy and Lawyer Brigg Baxter provide a brief overview of these pronouncements

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Partner Paul Lalich and Senior Associate Suzanne Westgate report on the new biodiversity certification and mitigation banking scheme that has the potential to change the face of development and biodiversity conservation in NSW

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A framework to facilitate and regulate the exploration for, and extraction of, geothermal energy resources in Victoria will be created by the new Geothermal Energy Resources Act, which was enacted earlier this year and will come into effect on or before 30 June 2006. Lawyer Alex Fleming and Partner Scott Langford examine the Act and some of the interesting issues raised by it

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Now that the Kyoto Protocol is in force, focus has turned to its implementation and variations in emerging domestic and international emissions trading markets. There is also uncertainty about what the natural and business climate will resemble beyond the Protocol's first commitment period in 2012. Partner Chris Schulz and Lawyer Emily Gerrard look at regional opportunities and changes for business under the Protocol and beyond

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After many years of negotiation, the Kyoto Protocol comes into force today. Much publicity and effort has focused on the Protocol's implementation, which has been celebrated as an example of international cooperation in addressing global climate change. However, the Protocol's practical impacts remain a matter of contention and conjecture. Partner Chris Schulz and Lawyer Emily Gerrard discuss the Protocol and examine the potential impact on Australian business

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A recent Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal ruling has meant that future planning scheme amendments may have to consider wider and more indirect impacts such as greenhouse effects when assessing the environmental impacts of a project. Lawyer Naomi Lindsay and Partner Chris Schulz look at the ruling's ramifications

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Yesterday, the Federal Government released its White Paper on energy policy entitled Securing Australia's Energy Future. While the White Paper does not contain any major shifts in policy direction, it does introduce several new initiatives. Its most controversial feature is likely to be the absence of any expansion of the Mandatory Renewable Energy Target scheme. Partner Grant Anderson and Senior Associate Darren Murphy provide a brief overview of the highlights of the White Paper.

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In March 2003, the Commonwealth Government established a panel to review its Mandatory Renewable Energy Target as stipulated under the Renewable Energy (Electricity) Act 2000. Although the panel reported to Parliament in September 2003, its report was only released to the public in January this year. Senior Associate Robyn Glindemann examines the significant findings of the panel

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One of the recommendations of the Parer Committee was the replacement of the existing disparate Commonwealth and State greenhouse abatement schemes with a national emissions trading scheme. Partners Jim Parker and Grant Anderson look at these schemes and the Parer Committee recommendations as well as the Kyoto Protocol and the emerging prospect of climate change litigation

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The manner in which we use and protect Australia's scarce water resources has been foremost in the minds of politicians in recent days. Partners Chris Schulz and Jim Parker and Lawyer Ashley Bleeker report on two landmark initiatives

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The COAG Energy Market Review Panel released its final report, Towards a Truly National and Efficient Energy Market, on 20 December 2002. Partner Grant Anderson looks at the main areas in which the final report differs from the draft report

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Comments on the COAG Energy Market Review Panel's draft report are due by 6 December. Partner Grant Anderson looks at the principal recommendations. Future articles will examine some of these issues in more depth

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The NSW Government is seeking feedback on the concept of 'green offsets'. Lawyer Shyama Chatterjee outlines the principles behind green offsets and the implementation of trial offset schemes

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Business will be encouraged to participate in a Federal Government program of greenhouse gas emissions credits. We look at what it entails

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In the wake of the Coalition's election victory, AAR lawyers Sarah Howse and Claire Van Schaik examine the environmental policies it outlined during the campaign

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We provide a summary of environment funding initiatives in this year's Federal Budget and look at a National Environment Protection Council proposal to lower the air ambient quality standard

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Capital markets update June 2001 - our feature article looks at recent activity in the securitisation market and considers how recent regulatory changes will impact on the current levels of activity