The Alternative Technology Association (ATA) welcomes the opportunity to provide comment on the National Carbon Offset Standard Discussion Paper, prepared by the Department of Climate Change.

As a representative of individuals and communities seeking to make a difference with respect to climate change, ATA is concerned by the inability of the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS) to respond to individual or community voluntary action – particularly where this action is clearly measurable, verifiable and additional to any mandated Government targets or price signals.

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The contribution small-scale renewable energy sources, such as roof-top solar, make to reducing Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions is far greater than expected.

Figures in a submission to the Department of Climate Change draft Renewable Energy Target (RET) legislation committee, show almost five per cent of the Renewable Energy Certificates generated in 2008 came from small scale solar and wind.

ATA is looking for a CEO to continue its strong growth and expansion to take advantage of the increasing mainstream interest in the work ATA does. It is as an exciting time to be part of the environmental sector, and the ATA needs a CEO who can continue to build its profile among government, industry and community stakeholders while also maintaining and building on the strong governance, and organisational practices recently established.

In a joint statement, released today, Australia’s most prominent sustainability groups say it is imperative the federal government puts an end to the host of inconsistent and confusing solar power policies, or risk Australia’s solar future.

The statement, submitted to the Department of Climate Change draft Renewable Energy Target (RET) legislation committee, says the government’s new Solar Credits Scheme will actually reverse the impact of installing household solar systems.

Click to view Solar Multiplier statement

The ATA is proud to be participating in the International Womens Day Focus on East Timor. This event hosted by the East Timor Womens Association (ETWA) is a celebration of ten years of Timorese independance and the achievements of East Timorese Women. The event will feature guest speaker Fernanda Borges. Fernanda is a leading Timorese politician and the only female party leader in the national parliament. The event will also feature presentations by the ATA, Australian Volunteers International and ETWA.

Both ReNew and Sanctuary magazines (published by the ATA) are successfully riding out the storm of these trying economic times… and they are doing it well!

Being niche magazines they continue to retain (and even gain) loyal and dedicated readers that support sustainability. February 2009 was the best month yet for magazine subscriptions.

With subscriptions increasing, ReNew and Sanctuary magazine provide the perfect canvas to reach a targeted and committed audience that wants to find more about sustainable products and services.

Green Capital invites you to join our dialogue about what a ‘green tax revolution’ can look like to drive accelerated outcomes in combating climate change, alongside measures such as the CPRS, RET and other greenhouse gas reduction initiatives. Bringing together voices from government, industry, unions, consumer groups and other affected spheres, we will outline the key areas of discussion being raised across a broadly varied spectrum within the Australian economic landscape, highlighting the redundancies of an antiquated taxation system under a newly emerging model for Australia’s future economic prosperity.

At the next meeting of the Sydney Central Branch, Geoff Smith will talk about how our new understanding of nantechnology will lead to more energy efficient buildings. He will discuss what’s current and some new emerging ideas with emphasis on lighting and cooling.
Geoff Smith is Professor of Applied Physics, at the University of Technology, [...]

ATA and MEFL welcome the opportunity to provide comment on the Exposure Draft
Legislation for the Renewable Energy Target (RET) Scheme. We welcome the expansion of
the Renewable Energy Target to 20% by 2020 and urge the Department and Government to
consider the concerns expressed in this submission to ensure this target is met.

ATA and MEFL are highly concerned by the new Solar Credits Scheme and in particular, the
‘Solar Multiplier’. This new aspect of the RET Scheme was not highlighted as a proposal in the
Design Options for the Expanded National Renewable Energy Target Scheme, which ATA
responded to in July 2008. Failure to flag this as a possibility in the Options Paper has not
allowed an opportunity for input into this aspect of the scheme.

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This meeting was held at 5:45pm on Wednesday February 18th at the offices of URS, level 6 no1 Southbank boulevard, Southbank (Click here for a map)
The Topic:
The Psychology of change – Convenor Damien Sweeney
This fascinating topic was covered by two speakers:
Dr Jim Curtis from the Monash University Tourism Research Unit talked on “The Psychology of [...]