NZ Herald - Climate change a huge challenge

Mr Garrett advised against any "tinkering" with the trading scheme in the short or medium term. "Businesses need certainty to accommodate, adjust and respond."

He expected the Australian scheme would be complementary and able to be integrated with the New Zealand version over time.

He had a "sense of optimism" about New Zealand's future. "I think your prospects are good."

Stuff.co.nz - Nightcaps coal rolling north to feed Fonterra

Hundreds of tonnes of Southland coal are being freighted north every day to feed the dairy monster.

Trainloads of up to 550 tonnes of thermal coal have been leaving the Takitimu Mine at Nightcaps bound for Fonterra's Clandeboye dairy plant north of Temuka, in South Canterbury.

ABC - Call for coal mine impact funds to be extended

A central Queensland mayor says the State Government's $100 million funding commitment to communities affected by coal mining could be extended to include the region's three major cities.

Central Highlands Mayor Peter Maguire attended a meeting in Moranbah yesterday with four other mayors, State Government officials and industry representatives.

He says it was suggested at the meeting that Rockhampton, Gladstone and Mackay be included as part of the three year project.

The Australian - Linc Energy in deal to tap coal, gas in China

EMERGING clean fuel producer Linc Energy has launched into the Chinese market, where it plans to use its gas and coal technologies to set up commercial projects.

The gas-to-liquids hopeful has joined forces with its new Chinese partner, Xinwen Mining Group, to develop underground coal gasification (UCG) and gas to liquids (GTL) projects in the Yining mining area.

The Age - Scrap coal plant compo, urges miners' union

THE coal miners' union has hit out at its own industry, calling on the Federal Government to deny coal-fired electricity plants "palliative care" in the form of compensation as it tackles climate change.

NZ Herald - Owen Hembry: Struggling farmers fear the worst

Federated Farmers president Don Nicolson said the sector would be exposed to transport and energy cost increases from day one.

"The closer you get to 2030 your profitability will be compromised year on year," Nicolson said.

NZ Herald - NZer cleared of damaging British power station

A New Zealander and five other Greenpeace activists have been acquitted of criminal damage charges after their protest at a coal-fired power station in southern England.

Emily Hall, 34, from Hawke's Bay, and five men were accused in Maidstone Crown Court of causing nearly £30,000 ($79,000) of damage to the Kingsnorth power station near Hoo in Kent.

They argued in court that the protest was lawful because it aimed to prevent damaging emissions, and the jury cleared them in a majority verdict.

News.com.au - Share market lower on oil fears

THE share market opened weaker again today today as oil slid - despite OPEC cutting production - and US investment bank Lehman Brothers reported additional writedowns but said it may sell key assets.

Fluid Handling - New source of gas and oil found in PNG

OIL Search says it has discovered a source of gas and light oil in Papua New Guinea (PNG) which could lead to an expansion of the country’s $11b liquefied natural gas (LNG) project.

The ExxonMobil-led PNG LNG project was originally developed as a two-plant operation using 60% of the oil and gas explorer’s resource base.

Oil Search is carrying out further examinations on the find, dubbed Cobra 1A ST3, to assess its size. Provided it is large enough, the reserve could be used to feed a third LNG plant.

ABC - Bligh outlines Gladstone LNG challenges

Premier Anna Bligh has told Parliament that Gladstone, in central Queensland, faces a number of issues as the liquefied natural gas (LNG) industry is developed.