SMH - Pioneers aim for cleaner, greener lives in suburbia

SYDNEY residents concerned about peak oil and government inaction on climate change are taking matters into their own hands, forming groups to turn their suburbs into low-carbon ''transition towns''.

The movement, which began in the town of Totnes, in Devon, is called Transition Towns and aims to reduce reliance on global sources of energy and food.

ABC - Change to foreign investment in coal

Overseas companies have always played a big part in Australian mining, but the last decade saw a significant change in the countries involved and their desire to take a controlling share of Australian coal companies.

Industry analyst Colin Randall says Chinese and Indian companies tend to take a controlling share, unlike the European and the Japanese

SMH - Power bidders left in dark over carbon-cost risk

UNCERTAINTY over Australia's emissions trading scheme is threatening to drive down the sale price of the NSW power assets, as bidders struggle to assess the risks of investing in the electricity industry.

The Australian - Soaring ore and coal prices spell bonanza

AUSTRALIA'S miners are set for another multi-billion-dollar bonanza from China this year with spot prices for iron ore and coal climbing rapidly ahead of contract negotiations for iron ore that may not reap any result.

The Age - Carbon pricing is 'starting point'

PUTTING a price on carbon is the ''essential starting point'' in dealing with climate change, according to Australia's top economists. Asked as part of The Age Economic Survey what is the best way of tackling climate change, almost all respondents agreed that carbon must be priced so that there is an incentive for people to stop emitting greenhouse gases.

The view is at odds with Opposition Leader Tony Abbott, who has ruled out taking either a carbon trading scheme or a carbon tax to the election. Mr Abbott says he will instead look to cut Australia's greenhouse gas emissions through better land management and energy-efficiency measures.

Macquarie economist Richard Gibbs said Australia had ''little choice'' as the world's highest per capita emitter but to fully engage in global efforts to reduce emissions.

Share Chat NZ - Greymouth Chilean oil project frustrated by NZ policy flip-flops

Greymouth Petroleum has confirmed first flows of oil and gas from its joint venture exploration project with the Chilean state oil company after more than a year's delay caused by unexpected changes to New Zealand tax law that have raised the cost of the project for the privately held New Zealand explorer.

Scoop.co.nz - The Good Dope on Bio Fuel

The Zero Now Day of alternative fuels, renewable resources and zero emissions being held at Te Manawa in Palmerston North on Anniversary Monday 25 January, has attracted a wide and varied range of exhibitors.

Scoop.co.nz - Fiji’s children face bleak future as global crisis hits economy

The global increase in fuel and food prices that followed only worsened the country’s predicament. As a bulk importer of food and fuel, Fiji is especially vulnerable to the price increases. In 2009, Fiji imported F$520 million (US$271.70 million) worth of food. Its fuel bill in the same year came to F$757.2 million (US$395.64).

SMH - Clinton and Rudd to talk climate change

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton wants to talk climate change with Prime Minister Kevin Rudd when she arrives in Australia later this month.

Stuff.co.nz - Hunt for climate clues under Antarctic

Dr McKay said the data that would be collected during the next trip would tie in with that from the Canterbury Basin, as sea-level change was connected to changes in Antarctic ice volumes.

ABC - Toro's uranium test pit approved

The West Australian state government has approved Toro Energy's plans for a test pit at its Wiluna uranium deposit.

Toro is one of several companies racing to establish WA's first uranium mine.

The Australian - Beat poverty first, then tackle emissions

THE climate change debacle at Copenhagen last month underlined the reality that any new global agreement will be on the terms set by developing countries. Leading commentators have written that China's leading role in this was a demonstration of its new influence as an economic power.