National Business Review NZ - Todd Energy has confidence to invest in exploration

Todd Energy said yesterday it is investing $100 million in searching for oil and gas in New Zealand.

"We have never been as busy with exploration activity, it is a very exciting time for Todd Energy and the flow on effects will be significant if we are successful," said managing director Richard Tweedie.

The Age - Captain Planet

The Earthship is a house. It harnesses water, sunlight and the thermal properties of the planet for heating and cooling. It has systems for treating sewage and storing energy, and provides power, compost and food for its inhabitants. Earthships exist totally off the grid - nothing comes in and nothing goes out. They're a utility company's nightmare.

But they're a planner's nightmare, too, and that's the problem. The past couple of centuries of urban development in the West have been all about standardising in the name of reducing risk, improving health and delivering services to lots and lots of people. The Reynolds model turns that on its head. His is a DIY ethos in which people build their own houses, generate their own utilities, grow their own food and take their own risks.

NZ Herald - Climate change headache for Key

The Government faces a headache in introducing an important part of its climate change policy on time after a divisive parliamentary inquiry exposed the unwillingness of National's partners to back its plan for cutting greenhouse gas emissions.

The Age - Size trumps technology as big cars dent green gains

AUSTRALIA'S enduring love affair with big cars means engine technology alone will not be enough to deliver necessary cuts in greenhouse gas emissions, a government report has warned.

Stuff.co.nz - Invest in clean energy overseas, firms urged

New Zealand businesses need to consider investing in overseas clean energy projects to offset their carbon emissions, a climate change consulting firm says.

ABC - Companies 'may have lied' over emissions trading

The Greens say they want the Senate Privileges Committee to investigate whether a number of companies gave misleading evidence to a parliamentary inquiry into the Government's emissions-trading scheme.

Greens Senator Christine Milne says several mining and manufacturing companies presented evidence that was materially different from what they told their shareholders.

Scoop.co.nz - Transport Minister shuts door on reducing carbon

The Government has rejected one of the simplest and most effective ways of reducing New Zealand's carbon emissions, the Green Party said today.

“Stephen Joyce's announcement that work will stop on fuel economy standards for vehicles coming into New Zealand condemns motorists to high fuel costs and rising emissions," Jeanette Fitzsimons, Spokesperson on climate change and transport, said.

National Business Review NZ - ETS review committee recommendations 'baby steps'

The planned changes to the Emissions Trading Scheme announced by a parliamentary review committee yesterday are merely baby steps, according to the Climate Change Research Institute.

Bloomberg - Great Barrier Reef Said to Face Catastrophic Damage

Catastrophic damage to the Great Barrier Reef, the world’s most extensive bank of coral and a magnet for skin divers, may be unavoidable if global warming continues unchecked, Australian officials said.

SMH - Australia tipped to become gas giant

Australia is increasingly being seen as a major gas player, with record production in the past financial year, a new report shows.

The Australian - Gorgon revenue doubt as LNG price slumps

At June-quarter prices, ExxonMobil's recent deal to sell China 2.25 million tonnes of LNG would be worth about $15bn -- not the $50bn the Rudd government speaks of.

The Australian - Chinese investment, M&A to drive resources sector

CHINESE investment and merger and acquisitions activity will drive the resources sector over the next year, with a growing focus on large assets.