Radio Australia - Energy 'as vital' as China for new global power

Professor Harris also warns that the greater the perception that peak oil is close, the more some governments seeking energy security may abandon international cooperation in a rush for maximum energy advantage. It's a scenario that is also ripe for conflict.

The Australian - China still on a quest for more Aussie mines

Barely three months after Rio Tinto triggered a corporate and political war with China by rejecting a $US19.5 billion ($23bn) alliance with the state-owned Chinalco, giant state-owned steelmaker Baosteel has put its foot on an Australian port and decades worth of resources.

Brisbane Times - Govt renewable target a 'mammoth task'

It will be a huge task for Australia to meet federal laws requiring that 20 per cent of electricity be sourced from renewable sources by 2020, ExxonMobil Australia Ltd chairman John Dashwood says.

The Age - Battle looms over Kimberley development

WESTERN Australia's pristine Kimberley Coast is under huge development pressure, and it's not just the big liquefied natural gas (LNG) processing facility proposed for James Price Point, 60 kilometres north of Broome.

LNG is the thin edge of a wedge meant to open up development of bauxite, coal, base metals and other resources of the West Kimberley region - and ultimately power alumina and lead/zinc refineries and smelters.

TV NZ - Maori Party coy on emissions scheme change

The Maori Party is refusing to confirm it wants to change its report on the emissions trading scheme (ETS) to support the government.

Stuff.co.nz - A fiscal sugar rush

Castigating the Government because it didn't spend as much as Rudd's is a fruitless exercise. Australia's reserves of minerals, oil and gas were always going to provide a stronger basis for economic recovery. As Alexander notes, the difference between New Zealand and Australia's economic performance is not as great as that between Godzone and other Western economies. A small blessing, but let's take it.

Gisborne Herald - Decisions on climate change cannot be taken lightly by anyone

This week, Australia and New Zealand played down the prospects of developing a unified Australasian market for carbon emissions saying it would be difficult to harmonise their schemes for cutting emissions.

NZ Herald - Australians sweat out warmest winter

SYDNEY - Australia is in the throes of probably its warmest winter ever, with records smashed up and down the country.

National Business Review - NZ Oil & Gas profit down 45% - but still 2nd best in its history

With the price of oil halving since its peak a year ago, NZ Oil & Gas (NZO) has seen its net profit decline by a similar percentage to $53.2 million from $97.2 million in 2008.

Gisborne Herald - Emissions target will shatter economy

Forestry, agriculture of all forms, even tourism rely entirely on fuel to operate. Without it they collapse along with our economy. The result being catastrophic.

Remember Gisborne is dependent on fuel. Without it we cease to exist.

The 20 percent reduction is not something that might or might not happen in 50 to 100 years — this has to happen in 10 years and the only way it can be achieved is by restricting fuel and fertiliser.

We can adapt to the scenario of a gradually warming planet over 100 years, as we have for the last 150 years. We cannot adapt as quickly to the sudden shutoff of fuel and fertiliser in 10 years time. This truly would be the end of life as we know it.

The Australian - ETS beef ignores issues at stake

AS unity tickets go, it is one of the more unusual: the Nationals and the Australian Greens are in furious agreement that the government's emissions trading scheme is worse than nothing. "In the case of this legislation, something is not better than nothing," Greens deputy Christine Milne insists to Inquirer. The Nationals leader-in-all-but-name Barnaby Joyce chimes in: "There's nothing worse than saying: 'I have got a cure', and then you stand up in front of the world and say: 'Watch me administer my cure', and everyone dies a miserable death."

ABC - Southern Qld's cool change 'won't last'

"The forecasts from the Queensland Climate Change Centre of Excellence is not overly optimistic for the months ahead of us.