Matt Stephenson

🌏 Has Australia cleaned up its act on climate? 🌏 This article highlighting SDG 13.3, dives into Australia's evolving #climate policies and the country’s renewed commitments to tackle carbon emissions. With significant shifts toward #renewableenergy and government pledges for net zero, the article reveals the challenges and progress faced by Australia in moving away from coal. Scan the QR code to read the article, and follow for more insight into the #SDGs!

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Discover how the Federal Budget 2024 is steering climate action in Australia. Learn about the key allocations and initiatives designed to reduce carbon emissions and promote sustainable practices across industries. See how these changes can impact your business and help shape a greener future. https://bit.ly/4aBCIId #ClimateAction #FederalBudget2024 #Sustainability

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🌟🌟 A Much-Needed Policy Boost for the Gas Sector and by extension Biomethane for a Circular Victoria 🌟 The Victorian Government has made a significant shift in its energy strategy. By retaining gas cooktops within the state's Net Zero roadmap, they’ve opened the door for renewable options like biomethane. This strategic move not only offers choice to consumers but also positions biomethane as a viable source of renewable gas, essential for meeting our net zero targets with the right policy support. Why Biomethane? Biomethane is a powerhouse for the circular economy. It converts waste into energy, seamlessly blending sustainability with efficiency. This ensures that we can utilize organic waste generated in Australia to forge a renewable gas future, right here at home. By integrating biomethane into our existing gas infrastructure, we boost the sustainability of our energy supply without sacrificing reliability or safety. Inspiration from Denmark: Denmark is setting the pace, with biomethane making up nearly 40% of their gas system as of 2023. They're aiming for 100% by 2030. Victoria is perfectly positioned to follow these pioneering footsteps! The Power of Choice It’s vital that Victorians retain the ability to choose their energy sources, which is crucial for a balanced and progressive energy policy. From cooking in our kitchens to heating our homes, gas is integral to our daily lives. Restricting these options could not only compromise the infrastructure essential for bioenergy but also place consumers at risk during power outages. A Call to Keep Choices Open We applaud the Victorian Government for their initiative to ensure gas cooktops can continue to be used. However, there is still work to be done. To truly unleash our bioenergy potential and advance Victoria’s decarbonization efforts, maintaining a broad range of consumer choices across all gas utilities such as gas heating and hot water is crucial. Let’s push for pragmatic policy that gives consumers choice, promotes the circular economy and ensures that we utilise existing gas infrastructure. Join us in promoting a dynamic, innovative approach to our energy future. 🌱 #Bioenergy #RenewableEnergy #Victoria #NetZero #Sustainability #EnergyChoice

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📣The Communique from the Australian Environment Minister's Meeting has been released. 🚮Ministers agreed to release a summary of the "National Roadmap: Harmonising action on problematic and unnecessary plastics", identifying 24 items that jurisdictions have agreed to work together to reduce variations on, without reversing any measures that have been taken. Agreed in principle that future action be coordinated and consistent to the extent possible. 🔋Noted the need for urgent reforms to product stewardship arrangements for batteries to address the escalating risks of battery fires and create a safe, circular economy for batteries. Ministers discussed the findings of a draft Regulatory Impact Statement (RIS), prepared by NSW and Victoria, examining options for these reforms. Recognising the need to act quickly to reduce the risks of battery fires, Ministers discussed progression of aligned state-led reforms for mandatory battery product stewardship, with NSW intending to introduce legislation in 2025. 👉 Our position We need to understand the list of 24 items that are on the list being considered for harmonisation. Cigarette filters should be on this list, as one of the most problematic plastics and certainly unnecessary. NSW will implement legislation for batteries. This is a good step, but it would have been ideal to have seen national action, a year after it was raised. 👓 Communique: https://lnkd.in/gDjVKD6E 🗞️ Media release: https://lnkd.in/gRBk729N ⁉️ The media release indicated that all states except Queensland agreed to these measures, without any explanation or context. Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water

#Government #emissionreductionplan Our commitment to Paris Agreement, Carbon Zero Act, essentially requires us to meet international standards of emission reduction. The credibility of an ERP is through accreditation and ISO14064 or Corporate GHG Protocol Standards alignment. The Carbon Neutral Government Programme by Ministry for the Environment | Manatū mō te Taiao provides the essential Sector Specific guidance. Toitū Envirocare accredited Carbon Programmes is the confidence that the public sector is essentially going above and beyond to implement these ERP. . A great explainer by MfE :) Ngā mihi

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Today marks the welcome release of updated planning guidelines for renewable energy projects in New South Wales, with the release of the Renewable Energy Planning Framework.   The framework aims to strike the best balance between a timely energy transition and managing the impacts of projects.   New benefit sharing guidelines are a fundamental component of this framework, designed to ensure that local communities are empowered and supported through reaping the significant economic benefits of hosting renewable energy projects, including a projected $400 million shared over a 25 year period and the creation of local jobs.   The Clean Energy Council’s Dr Nicholas Aberle said the guidelines will play a crucial role in ensuring wind and solar farms in NSW are assessed in a timely manner while helping the state to maintain a reliable electricity supply.   “Clearer guidelines create a more predictable process for the companies seeking to build renewable energy projects as well as for the communities where these projects are proposed to be built, which is a win-win.   “This outcome reflects a significant volume of advocacy work by members and the Clean Energy Council, and we look forward to continuing to work with the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure to ensure NSW’s energy transition is on track.” #cleanenergy #renewableenergy

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ASIC’s mandatory climate reporting regime is coming in 2025, and businesses must prepare. CFOs, are you ready to align financial reporting with sustainability goals? Key steps: - Assess climate data reporting capabilities - Engage stakeholders - Implement governance frameworks for compliance This is an opportunity to enhance transparency, manage risks and build investor confidence. Need help navigating the changes? Contact us for expert guidance. 🌱 https://hubs.ly/Q02Sktjr0 #Sustainability #ASICCompliance #CFO #ClimateRisk #CarbonGroup

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The opening of the 100 Neighbourhood Batteries Program Grants marks another opportunity to embrace regional opportunities for a community-driven energy future. As we confront the dual challenges of climate change and energy security, this initiative provides a crucial opportunity for regional leaders to rethink how we generate, store, and use energy. But the impact of the energy transition can and should go beyond just the construction of infrastructure—it can represent a shift in how we empower local communities. By strategically aligning these projects with broader regional development goals, we can unlock multiple layers of value: enhancing energy resilience for our communities, fostering economic growth, and supporting social equity. Having advised regional councils and water corporations on complex infrastructure projects, I’ve seen firsthand the transformative potential of well-planned energy/water initiatives. The key lies in a holistic approach—one that integrates robust governance, community/stakeholder engagement, and a long-term vision for sustainable/shared outcomes. I invite regional leaders to think boldly and strategically about how to leverage these grants for maximum impact. Together, we can pave the way for a resilient, prosperous future. #ThoughtLeadership #EnergyTransition #RegionalResilience #StrategicPlanning #Sustainability

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Last week, the Energy Efficiency Council, funded by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water and Solar Victoria within the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA), released the roadmap for heat pump hot water systems (HPHWS) in Australia that lays out key steps for the establishment of heat pumps as the primary water-heating technology across the country by 2030. As a signatory of the roadmap, we are committed to continuing our operational excellence across the energy efficiency industry. Discover how are and will continue to support the roadmap to 2030 🔋💧 Read the full roadmap: https://hubs.ly/Q02JwKsZ0 #EnergyEfficiency #CleanEnergy #EmeraldAustralia #ElectrifyAustralia

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LEADING #greenbuilding rating system organisations including the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) have launched a guide to facilitate the $35 trillion investment needed to meet global #energytransition goals. #climatechange #Decarbonisation #NetZero #CarbonEmissions #Sustainability

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And speaking of Queensland, the Queensland Government has released their Renewable Energy Zone Roadmap, which outlines the pathway for the development of renewables in the state. No doubt this will be of great value to all with an interest in developing renewables in the state. https://lnkd.in/gAfNWkVt #renewableenergy #renewables #renewablepower #renewablenergy #greenenergy #windenergy #windpower #windfarms #windindustry #onshorewind #offshorewind #solarenergy #solar #solarpower #solarindustry #solarprojects #bess #batterystorage #bigbattery #energystorage #pumpedstorage #pumpedhydro #hydropower #greenenergy #greenhydrogen #hydrogeneconomy #ammonia #energygrid #transmission #energytransmission

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https://lnkd.in/gQzexVeV PLAN FOR 2025: Hear key Regulators, leading environmental lawyers and experts present the CHANGES EXPECTED IN 2025 on key environmental, climate change, carbon management/emissions reduction and energy laws, requirements and new developments to assist you and your organisation to remain compliant. Program and Register - https://lnkd.in/gQzexVeV Australian Environment Business Network (AEBN) www.aebn.com.au #ESG #NetZero #climateaction #epa #environment #emissions #emissionsreduction #climatechange #carbon #carbonmanagement #ghg #greenhousegas #mitigation #environmental #environmentalmanagement #practitioners #energy #renewable #renewableenergy #renewables

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How do you handle emissions data if your business operates in Australia & overseas? 👀 This is one of the trickiest parts of sustainability reporting for many Australian companies for two main reasons: ❌ Many companies have had to manually separate or combine data from different countries – and manual handling often leads to data errors. ❌ Carbon accounting platforms aren’t all the same. So even companies using a carbon accounting tool to measure emissions might not be able to separate/combine data from different countries, or might find their measurements and emission factors don’t actually meet international reporting standards. ✅ That’s why we made this a priority at Climate Zero. 🙂 With our platform, you get everything that makes emissions measurement easier and consistently accurate for sustainability reporting in Australia and internationally including global emission factors. This work is based on our experience helping AU based companies measure and reduce emissions for 15+ years including companies like SG Fleet AU and Autorola Group. To find out, take a look at one of our recent case studies: https://lnkd.in/gwnKbQ79 And if you’d like to take a look around Climate Zero, please reach out to our team Pete Brownstein, KB (Katherine) Buzza, Jess Symes or Tai Lennon #Sustainability #FleetManagement #CarbonEmissions #ClimateZero #DataManagement #NetZero

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Australian organisations: Are you aware of the new climate disclosure penalties for businesses? Starting soon, large businesses in Australia will face stringent new requirements to disclose their climate impacts. Under the upcoming legislation, companies must publicly report detailed information on their efforts to reduce carbon emissions. This includes financial penalties for directors personally if disclosures are found misleading or incomplete. Key points: ⭐ Integrated reporting: Sustainability reports will become a part of annual financial reports, increasing directors' legal responsibilities. ⭐ Director accountability: Directors must ensure reports comply with Australian Accounting Standards and accurately reflect the company’s climate impact. ⭐ Legal consequences: Non-compliance can result in multi-million dollar penalties, emphasising the importance of accurate and thorough climate-related disclosures. These changes are expected to elevate sustainability discussions in boardrooms, ensuring climate risks and opportunities are prioritised. Get in touch to learn how Avarni can assist by automating your Scope 1-3 emissions calculations. https://lnkd.in/gC-dTpQt

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Good to hear about Victoria’s success with its ‘Recycled First’ policy in the new 2024 Circular Economy Market Report.   Victoria's ‘Recycled First’ policy promotes the integration of recycled materials into government building projects, significantly increasing the demand for recycled materials.   Read more here; Victoria’s Circular Economy Market Report 2024 https://lnkd.in/gSS9ZN_E  #CircularEconomy #RecycledFirst #Sustainability

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This proposed large-scale development on the Nullarbor has the potential to have severe ecological consequences for the caves it overlaps and the systems it impacts. In the proposed development footprint are caves that are home to endemic fauna (species only known from a single cave). The development needs to go through the highest level of assessment and consultation, in a public and transparent way. If you can, please submit comments to the EPA (details below) #conservation #biodiversity #ozinverts

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Here's an interesting read highlighting that (unexpectedly) 75% of businesses are prioritizing decarbonization direct actions over carbon offsetting to meet NZC targets. It would be intriguing to see how this study may impact SBTi's stance on carbon offsetting. https://lnkd.in/e9V_ssEz

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New Zealand gets Carbon Credentials: CEP will be launching its new energy and carbon management credentials next month. The new credentials - Certified Professional in Energy™ and Certified Professional in Carbon™ - are being introduced to satisfy the increasing demand for understanding and reducing emissions in pursuit of corporate emissions targets. The scheme is supported by digital badges that clients or employers can verify at the click of a mouse. To hold the credentials, people not only need to satisfy assessments on knowledge and experience but also have to sign up to CEP’s Codes of Ethics and Professional Conduct and its Disciplinary Procedures. Anyone interested in the training or credentials can learn more at a CEP webinar at 4.00pm on Monday, 30 September 2024. Register for free - https://lnkd.in/gBzDfKzQ One of the features of the new credentials is that they are modular, so holders can choose to hold one or several badges. Collect the right combinations and satisfy an experience assessment and individuals can earn the professional level certifications. The training modules are designed for self-directed learning meaning students can develop their knowledge and skills when and where they choose and at their own pace. The full suite of modules will be released over the next three months and CEP is supporting students with online access to tutors in waves over the next twelve months. The initial wave of supported modules includes those related to Efficiency First, Preparing a GHG Inventory and Goal Setting. The cost of training modules will vary depending on length. Members of CEP and employees of CEP Corporate Partners will enjoy significant discounts on the training. #CarbonCredentials #DigitalBadges #Certification #Training #SelfDirectedLearning #eLearning #ProfessionalDevelopment #EnergyProfessionals #CarbonProfessionals #FreeWebinar #EECA EECA (Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority) Engineering New Zealand Te Ao Rangahau Accredible

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