Carbon Training International

Byron Bay court ruling puts councils on notice to consider climate change impacts when making planning decisions

In a landmark decision on Monday 1 ^st February, the NSW Land and Environment Court ruled against Byron Shire Council which sought to prevent a resident building a barrier to protect his property that was threatened by coastal erosion. 

The court has also ordered that the council must "maintain, monitor and repair beach stabilisation works at four other vulnerable sites". [1]  

Whilst a lack of a coordinated national approach to coastline management and the impact of climate change has been identified as a factor, the decision by Byron Shire Council to put the local planning ordinance in place and then try to legally defend has been singled out as a major concern. 

Although local governments are not supported by a uniform national approach to climate change planning, the apparent lack of knowledge, skills and expertise in climate change risks, adaptation strategies and mitigation appears to be a shortcoming of growing concern. 

For councils that manage areas of low-lying coastal land there is a...

India to create energy efficiency credits to tackle carbon emissions

The Indian Government has announced the introduction of a market in energy efficiency credits which is expected to grow to a total volume of 740 billion rupees ($US17.5 billion) by 20115.

"Businesses exceeding energy efficiency targets will get credits they may trade on power exchanges with companies that fail to meet the goals, Bureau of Energy Efficiency Director- General Ajay Mathur said in an interview in Mumbai."[i]

India has already announced plans to reduce carbon intensity (CO2 emissions per unit of GDP) by up to 25% from 2005 levels by 2020.

The energy efficiency targets are expected to be announced by March 2010.