Rebecca Bentley, University of Melbourne and Emma Baker The World Health Organisation has always been interested in housing as one of the big “causes of the causes”, of the social determinants, of health. The WHO launched evidence-based guidelines for healthy housing policies in 2019. Australia is behind the eight ball on healthy housing. Other governments, […]
The NSW government has created a new agency dedicated to resilience, Resilience NSW, with the NSW Rural Fire Service boss who dominated the news cycle over the summer, Shane Fitzsimmons, to take the reins.
As progress continues for controversial mining projects, the Greens have called for a halt on all planning measures until a community consultation plan is established to take into account the COVID-19 outbreak.
Fragrances have been under fire for their toxicity lately and now the evidence is mounting that wearing deodorant and other simple acts of human existence – including breathing – may be the biggest source of air pollution in offices.
Soon after becoming prime minister last year, Scott Morrison appointed a minister for “congestion busting”, signalling the importance he attaches to this issue. The large number of Google search results on “traffic congestion in Australian cities 2019” (9.5 million) and “traffic congestion in Australian cities costing the economy 2019” (8.3 million) seems to support his […]
The Department of Defence is being dragged over the coals for its handling of the PFAS contamination crisis, but the problem is emerging at more sites such as airports and fire stations. And, according to experts, it could be a problem for “virtually any property development or construction project”.
One of Australia’s leading experts on the chemicals used in firefighting foam and Scotchguard, suspected of causing cancer, says the action of Australia’s government on the issue “incomprehensible”.
ABC’s Four Corners waste and recycling exposé has everyone talking about rubbish, with the NSW and Queensland governments squaring up for a stoush over garbage sent to Queensland to avoid landfill levies.
The Victorian government’s plan to turn brown coal into hydrogen in line with long-term plan by Japanese interests will make it harder for the state to meet its climate commitment of keeping global warming under the two degree threshold, environmental critics say.
Concerns have been raised that green building principles such as energy and water minimisation strategies may be increasing the risk of dangerous Legionella pneumophila bacteria proliferating in potable water systems. But according to critics the problem could be as much about poor facilities management and need for better co-operation between engineers and sustainability managers as […]
Nanomaterials are increasingly being used in the industrial, built and consumer environments but concern is mounting over their potential negative environmental and health effects.
There are 227 substances commonly found in Australia’s workplaces that can contribute to adult-onset asthma, a new study from Perth’s Curtin University has found.
Dodgy building products causing excessive fire risks could see firefighters refuse to enter high rise apartment buildings to fight fires, the head of Strata Community Australia has warned.
SPECIAL REPORT: The property industry is in the cross-hairs with mercury, found in old technology lighting and potentially damaging in the extreme to humans and ecology, clogging up landfills and backyard sheds. The federal government is making things worse by failing to ratify an international convention that ensures this toxic substance is properly disposed of. […]
SPECIAL REPORT: The property industry is in the cross-hairs with mercury, found in old technology lighting and potentially damaging in the extreme to humans and ecology, clogging up landfills and backyard sheds. The federal government is making things worse by failing to ratify an international convention that ensures this toxic substance is properly disposed of. […]
A report released this week in the US on air pollution from unconventional gas extraction, also known as fracking, showed that there are high levels of various chemicals of concern released during the process, with clear public health implications. The Australian science community has had a mixed response, with one leading scientist from the industry-funded […]
A report released this week in the US on air pollution from unconventional gas extraction, also known as fracking, showed that there are high levels of various chemicals of concern released during the process, with clear public health implications. The Australian science community has had a mixed response, with one leading scientist from the industry-funded […]
From The Conversation: In the shadows of Broken Hill’s rich mining history lies a legacy of contamination and regulatory failure that will likely outlive any benefits locals derive from mining.
The recent media release pointing to a truce between the US Green Building Council and the American Chemistry Council would have been greeted with confusion if not dismay by many people in the sustainable property industry who have followed this particular front in the green wars.
The recent media release pointing to a truce between the US Green Building Council and the American Chemistry Council would have been greeted with confusion if not dismay by many people in the sustainable property industry who have followed this particular front in the green wars.
A peculiar email hit The Fifth Estate inbox today (Thursday) titled “US Green Building Council and the American Chemistry Council to Work Together to Advance LEED”.
The UK-Based Bee Coalition is calling for a global ban on neonicotinoid pesticides, citing the results of a Worldwide Integrated Assessment that reviewed 800 studies covering birds, animals, soil and water, as well as bees. The study showed that neonicotinoids pose a major threat to a wide range of invertebrate species in soil, vegetation, aquatic […]
