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News from the front desk, Issue 507: So, Australia is on an economic tear so that means there is nothing stopping sustainability, right? Out of our recent Building Circularity came some gems of insights into the urgent tasks to hand to reduce the carbon in our structures. And the immense ambition and possibilities opening up to […]
The super-successful building operational energy performance rating scheme pioneered in Australia has launched in the UK following 18 months of detailed trials to adapt it to the UK environment.
A border tax on high carbon imports, and a list of which economic activities to bankroll, are some of the tasks in hand by the European Union’s Platform on Sustainable Finance.
Last week’s article on The Fifth Estate arguing that hydrogen for homes is a terrible idea needs correcting. Green hydrogen has a firm place in a zero carbon future. Its author, Gabriel Levy, is confining his argument against hydrogen to its domestic use. It will still be widely used by 2050 in industry and transport. […]
On the face of it the handling of the pandemic and who might be best to lead the Sunshine State out of the doom and gloom it’s caused is dominating the mainstream coverage of the Queensland election this weekend. But on closer inspection, environmental issues are front and centre in some of the seats that […]
It’s called co-design in the academic world – where you build the research with community partners. And we know that it’s the most powerful form of creating a pathway to new knowledge. “You go slower, but you produce new ideas.” Australia has been in panic mode on climate for a decade, and has gone backwards, […]
A citizen’s jury would capture “a balance of gender, age group, ethnicity, and income” The Covid crisis has evolved into a social-distancing crisis. And this supervirulent member of the Coronaviridae family, couldn’t ask for a more perfect host. We humans are social creatures — we love each other’s company. Viruses have existed for billions of years — […]
This month, New Zealand’s Auckland Council adopted a unique plan for tackling climate change centred on cutting transport emissions, retrofitting buildings and transitioning to a clean energy system.
In these stormy days, one is reminded of Charles Dudley Warner’s quip: “Everyone complains about the weather, but no one does anything about it”. This past week, much to the exasperation of Wamberal residents as they forfeit a good slice of their back yards, we remain confused about what to do and who should do […]
The not-my-problem attitude to fossil fuel exports in Australia is making the country a major contributor to global climate change. Here’s why supply– not just demand – ought to be the target of climate action.
The New Zealand government is making a bold climate commitment with a plan to transform the building sector, which includes aggressive new efficiency standards for energy and water use and mandatory reporting requirements on construction materials and waste. On Friday, the New Zealand government announced its Building for Climate Change Programme, setting out plans to […]
While the race to achieving net zero is on, we need to focus on acting.
Carbon neutral certifications are multiplying under the government’s Climate Active program. Mother Nature is not necessarily impressed.
Many see the current pandemic crisis – coming on the heels of the bushfire crisis and its parent, the climate crisis – in optimistic terms; as providing opportunity in recovery for economic environmental and social policy rethinks.
The pursuit of greener urban areas in NSW will bring us resilience to climate change and increased liveability but if we’re not careful, urban greening policies could be the kindling for future bushfire events that destroy lives and property. The good news is there are a host of techniques that allow us to vegetate responsibly, […]
It’s possible for Australia to limit temperature increase to 1.5°C but only if every sector – including the built environment – commits to an “all in” approach, according to a new report from ClimateWorks Australia.
The summer bushfires were Australia’s wake-up call on the climate emergency, and now there’s no time to waste. Fortunately, the road to decarbonisation is becoming clearer.
Looks like this virus has already rearranged our DNA. Acts of extreme kindness are appearing where before there was only cold-hearted neoliberalism.
As global average temperatures continue to rise with increasingly disastrous effects, Sydney-based architect Don Albert considers where and how Australians will work in the future, by re-examining the past.
There’s a focus on community engagement at EY but the fastest growing service area is climate change work – from climate risk disclosures to gritty strategic work such as decarbonisation plans for governments.
US authorities have learnt from past natural disasters that retrofitting homes to protect against wildfires is an effective strategy. Australia should take note.
Job ads for housing and construction sectors are still on the decline but are forecasted to pick back up again in line with rising building approvals, according to the latest SEEK employment report.
Environmental organisations are ramping up their activities in the wake of the recent fires, The Wilderness Society among them. TWS is planning to tap consumer sentiment to choose the right products such as recycled fibre, and it wants to grow its network, that currently has a branch in nearly every major city. “We’re looking to […]
As the fires were still raging in the NSW south coast architect and urbanist Don Albert had first-hand view of two shattered communities when he heeded the invitation to tourists to come to the area.
The urban heat island effect impacts people (especially the most vulnerable), buildings, transport operation and infrastructure, energy demand, the economy and trees and animals’ health.
Every Australian (and many people beyond) are now feeling the fear that Greta enunciated just one year ago in her speech at Davos. Much to the surprise of the hopeful, hope has not delivered so let’s assume we need to actually do something now. After all, if not now, then when?
Climate change dominated discussions at this year’s traditionally conservative World Economic Forum but it remains to be seen how far business will go cutting carbon.
The Australian government has been accused of – literally – fiddling while the country burns but there has been a sea change in attitude among business leaders and investors, who are fast coming to grips with climate change.
Most of the time we discuss climate change as affecting cities and the people who live in them. Less well known is that cities – specifically their planning and design – also create climate change through the urban heat island. Encouragingly, this means that cities can provide climate solutions. Why are we not discussing this?
It has been a summer like no other. We have seen loss of life and unprecedented destruction across NSW and much of the rest of the country. Australia has been the hottest place on the planet and Sydney’s air quality has at times ranked as the worst in the world. Climate change is unfolding before our eyes.
