SMH - PM's message to US: world wants the rich to fight global warming

KEVIN RUDD has called on the US to shoulder the same effort as other rich countries in a new global climate agreement, using his address to the UN conference in Bali yesterday to describe climate change as "the defining challenge of our generation".

But Mr Rudd continued to avoid stating support for the strong wording of the draft deal under negotiation in Bali, which says developed countries will be required to make cuts of 25 to 40 per cent in their greenhouse gas emissions by 2020.

A few hours after Mr Rudd spoke, the head of the US delegation, Paula Dobriansky, said bluntly that the US did not support the wording on the need for deep cuts by developed nations. She said the language "predetermines" the outcome of a final agreement, to be signed in 2009. The US opposition has created deep divisions at the Bali talks, with Europe and many developing nations - including the host, Indonesia - strongly supporting the wording.

Despite Mr Rudd not embracing the wording on the cuts, he received long and loud applause for Australia's ratification of the Kyoto Protocol when he took his seat on the main podium with the UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, the Indonesian President, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, the leaders of several other neighbouring nations, and the UN's chief climate negotiator, Yvo de Boer.

SMH - Gore says US blocking progress at Bali climate talks

Scoop.co.nz - Parker: Building the global carbon market

ClimateChangeCoep - New Zealand emissions trading scheme gets tough on farming emissions

National Business Review (NZ) - Philips pushes bright idea

The leader of Philips’ global campaign to drive uptake of new lighting technologies says New Zealand politicians seem willing to progress further change in the industry. ... Philips is pushing for regulators to boost uptake of energy efficient lighting through education campaigns, green procurement policies, building efficiency standards and restricting old technologies. The issue is getting traction now with the EU and Australia set to phase out incandescent lightbulbs.

In New Zealand the government is working on public sector procurement policies that would nudge purchasing towards more green technology. Energy efficient lighting tends to be more expensive upfront but because it lasts longer, costs less over the product lifetime.

Philips is also rolling out new energy-efficient products in New Zealand – office lighting controllers, street lighting and bulbs. The first installation of its CosmoPolis street lights, which are brighter than standard orange ones, was in June this year in Whangamata.

The Age - Brumby boasts climate change pot of gold

The Age - Big projects taking us all for a ride

The Australian - UraniumSA makes 'discovery of a lifetime'

MINING minnow UraniumSA believes it has made the discovery of a lifetime after stumbling on an in situ leachable uranium deposit on the remote Eyre Peninsula in South Australia. While the grades were not high compared with more favoured domestic deposits of yellowcake, UraniumSA said the shallow, flat bed-style deposit made it suitable for leaching without any extraction. ...

In situ uranium leaching in itself is not uncommon in Australia, with the practice occurring at the Beverley Uranium Mine in northern South Australia, one of only three operating Australian uranium mines. Normal uranium leaching involves changing the acidity of the groundwater to expose the uranium. Groundwater at the deposit was so saline that it could burn skin, UraniumSA managing director Russel Bluck said.

Reuters - Oil Search wins Tunisia drill permit

The Australian - Babcock & Brown bucks debt fear with US gas pipeline buy

The Australian - Big users seek shake-up of national energy policy body