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The article focuses on the emissions trading paper released by Australian Prime Minister John Howard. The paper notes that the size of the greenhouse gas abatement task confronting the country is significant. It explains that emissions trading is a more flexible market-based policy tool than imposing a carbon tax on industry. Particular focus is given to the scheme suggested by professor Warwick McKibbin in response to the issue.

The article focuses on issues related to chemical engineering in Australia and New Zealand. It cites the implications of the approval of the pulp mill project to be launched by pulp and forestry company Gunns at Bell Bay in Tasmania's Tamar Valley. It mentions the acquisition of mining company Excel by explosives company Orica. It mentions the targets set by the New Zealand government for its new energy strategy.

The article announces that the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) in Australia is inviting feedback on its Green Papers on energy and water which were launched with a symposium in June 2008 in Sydney, New South Wales. The papers were still in final preparation but are expected to be online by early July at www.icheme.org/roadmap.

The article focuses on the criticism issued to the plan of the Australian Labor government to launch a carbon emission trading scheme in 2010. Climate change minister Penny Wong issued a Green Paper explained the tax credits to be given to heavy carbon industries. However, the scientific community claims that such liberal allowances could undermine the effectiveness of carbon trading.

The article reports on a white paper, titled "Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme: Australia's Low Pollution Future," published by the Australian government. The paper contains a pledge to reduce carbon dioxide emissions 5-15 percent from 2000 levels by 2020. Furthermore, the paper establishes a target of a 60 percent reduction below 2000 levels, to be obtained through the development of the largest carbon cap-and-trade scheme outside Europe.

The article discusses the plans of Australia for dealing with emissions. The government's minister for climate change, Penny Wong, has released the White Paper on the Australian Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS), heralding a new debate on the impact of the proposed scheme. The White Paper outlines a cap-and-trade system that covers all six of the Kyoto Protocol gases and the sectors accounting for about 75% of Australia's emissions. Through the excise system, the CPRS involves about 1,000 firms.

The article reports that forestry and agricultural conglomerate Gunns has received the final environmental approval from the Australian government for its planned pulp mill in northern Tasmania.