Adapting agriculture to climate change : preparing Australian agriculture, forestry and fisheries for the future [book]

Editors: Chris Stokes & Mark Howden

"Moves beyond describing the causes and consequences of climate change to providing options for people to work towards adaptation action. Climate change implications and adaptation options are given for the key Australian primary industries of horticulture, forestry, grains, rice, sugarcane, cotton, viticulture, broadacre grazing, intensive livestock industries, marine fisheries, and aquaculture and water resources. Case studies demonstrate the options for each industry." - cover.
Call number: 632.10994 ADA 2010
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Projected Costs of Generating Electricity 2010 [online]

Authors: Nuclear Energy Agency / International Energy Agency

"Presents the latest data available for a wide variety of fuels and technologies, including coal and gas (with and without carbon capture), nuclear, hydro, onshore and offshore wind, biomass, solar, wave and tidal as well as combined heat and power (CHP). It provides levelised costs of electricity (LCOE) per MWh for almost 200 plants, based on data covering 21 countries (including four major non-OECD countries), and several industrial companies and organisations. For the first time, the report contains an extensive sensitivity analysis of the impact of variations in key parameters such as discount rates, fuel prices and carbon costs on LCOE. Additional issues affecting power generation choices are also examined." - abstract.

A new look at carbon offsets (journal article)
By Marcel Brinkman
from McKinsey Quarterly Feb 2010
"Carbon markets will continue to play a role in pricing—and limiting—emissions, but the opportunity in developing markets may be less promising than once expected."
Contact the Library for a copy of this article.

Information Systems Innovation for Environmental Sustainability (journal article)
By Nigel P Melville
from MIS Quarterly Vol. 34 Issue 1 Mar 2010, pp. 1-21
"Human life is dependent upon the natural environment, which, most would agree, is rapidly degrading. Business enterprises are a dominant form of social organization and contribute to the worsening, and enhancement, of the natural environment. Scholars in the administrative sciences examine questions spanning organizations and the natural environment but have largely omitted the information systems perspective. We develop a research agenda on information systems innovation for environmental sustainability that demonstrates the critical role that IS can play in shaping beliefs about the environment, in enabling and transforming sustainable processes and practices in organizations, and in improving environmental and economic performance. The belief--action--outcome (BAO) framework and associated research agenda provide the basis for a new discourse on IS for environmental sustainability."

Requiem for a species : why we resist the truth about climate change [book]

Author: Clive Hamilton
Sometimes facing up to the truth is just too hard. There have been any number of urgent scientific reports in recent years emphasising just how dire the future looks and how little time we have left to act. But around the world only a few have truly faced up to the facts about global warming.This book is about why we have ignored those warnings, so that now it is too late. It is a book about the frailties of the human species: our strange obsessions, our hubris, and our penchant for avoiding the facts. It is the story of a battle within us between the forces that should have caused us to protect the earth, like our capacity to reason and our connection to nature, and our greed, materialism and alienation from nature, which, in the end, have won out.

Call number: 363.73874 REQ 2010
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State of the World 2010 : Transforming Cultures from Consumerism to Sustainability [journal]

Author: Worldwatch Institute

"It will take a sustained, long-term effort to redirect the traditions, social movements and institutions that shape consumer cultures towards becoming cultures of sustainability. These institutions include schools, the media, businesses and governments. Bringing about a cultural shift that makes living sustainably as 'natural' as a consumer lifestyle is today will not only address urgent crises like climate change, it could also tackle other symptoms like extreme income inequity, obesity and social isolation that are not typically seen as environmental problems.

State of the World 2010 paints a picture of what this sustainability culture could look like, and how we can - and already are - making the shift." - from publisher.

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Find it at: State of the World : a Worldwatch Institute report on progress towards a sustainable society, in the journal collection.

Doing business in a new climate : a guide to measuring, reducing and offsetting greenhouse gas emissions [book]

Authors: Paul Lingl, Deborah Carlson and the David Suzuki Foundation

Around the world, a growing number of businesses are taking steps to reduce their climate impact by managing their greenhouse gas emissions. At the same time, these businesses are discovering that effective greenhouse gas management can enhance their brands, motivate employees, increase operational efficiencies, and save money.

This guide walks readers through the key activities that make up a greenhouse gas management program, including measuring, reducing, and offsetting emissions and developing a communications strategy around the program. Throughout, case studies of over fifty leading businesses from around the world highlight innovation and solutions to common challenges, and further resources are provided for each section.

Find it at: 658.4083 DOI 2010 or
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Cities, Towns and Renewable Energy : Yes In My Front Yard [online]

Authors: International Energy Agency & OECD

Local governments have the power to influence the energy choices of their citizens. Many cities and towns have already encouraged energy efficiency measures. Even so, as demand for energy services continues to grow, the energy infrastructure that every city and town depends on will need to be expanded, upgraded or replaced. This provides the opportunity to increase the deployment of renewable energy technologies and decentralised energy systems, and hence gain the multi-benefits of increased energy security, climate change mitigation and sustainable development, but also the social benefits of reduced air pollution, such as improved health and employment. ...

The goals of this report are to inspire city stakeholders by showing how renewable energy systems can benefit citizens and businesses, assist national governments to better appreciate the role that local municipalities might play in meeting national and international objectives, and help accelerate the necessary transition to a sustainable energy future.

Population growth and Australia's 2020 greenhouse gas emission commitments (journal article)
by Bob Birrell and Ernest Healy
from People and Place Vol 17 No 4 pp.18-28
"The Australian Government has stated an unconditional commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by five per cent on year 2000 levels by 2020. However, in the absence of new abatement measures, Treasury-led modelling indicates that Australia's emissions will grow from 553 milion tonnes in 2000 to 774 million tonnes in 2020. This article disaggregates the Treasury modelling in order to estimate the contribution of population expansion to this growth. It shows that 83 per cent of the forecast will be attributable to population growth. This article concludes that it is very unlikely we will achieve the target by 2020 in the absence of attention to the population growth factor."

Greening our built environment : costs, benefits, and strategies [book]

Authors: Greg Kats, Principal author ; Jon Braman and Michael James

“Green” buildings—buildings that use fewer resources to build and to sustain—are commonly thought to be too expensive to attract builders and buyers. But are they? The answer to this question has enormous consequences, since residential and commercial buildings together account for nearly 50% of American energy consumption—including at least 75% of electricity usage—according to recent government statistics.

This eye-opening book reports the results of a large-scale study based on extensive financial and technical analyses of more than 150 green buildings in the U.S. and ten other countries. It provides detailed findings on the costs and financial benefits of building green. According to the study, green buildings cost roughly 2% more to build than conventional buildings—far less than previously assumed—and provide a wide range of financial, health and social benefits. In addition, green buildings reduce energy use by an average of 33%, resulting in significant cost savings.

Find it at: 720.47 GRE 2009 or, Click here to request a copy through your library.

Enforcement of planning and environmental laws in Queensland [book]

Author: Leanne O'Brien

This book provides a detailed guide to handling enforcement issues and proceedings in the planning and environment jurisdiction in Queensland.

Written for lawyers, compliance officers and local government prosecutors who are new to the field, topics covered include planning and environmental offences, conditions of development approvals, investigations, statutory notices, duplicity, negotiations, compromising prosecutions, court proceedings, defences and sentencing. Explanations of the law are supported by analyses of cases, practical commentary and practice tips. While aimed primarily at new-comers to the jurisdiction, the text's extensive scope and analyses mean aspects of the work will also be of interest to experienced practitioners.

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Can Technology Really Save Us from Climate Change? (journal article)
By Alex Rau, Rob Toker and Joanne Howard
from Harvard Business Review Vol 88 Iss 1 Jan 2010, pp. 21-23
"The article presents the authors' views on the outlook for the development of technological innovations and entrepreneurial industries that can reverse global warming. The discussion focuses on Moore's Law in the context of how long it takes to develop and implement energy-related innovations. The efficient use of capital investment and government regulations for clean technology and cost-benefit analysis for projections of emission rates and abatements in new energy technologies such as wind energy and solar photovoltaics are discussed."

Land & Water Australia, 1990-2009 : research reports and publications [CD ROM]

Author: Land and Water Australia

Contains an archive of all Land and Water Australia's research papers, publications and tools on topics including: climate, native vegetation, water & rivers and innovation, biodiversity, landscape management, and more.

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Sustainable development for public administration [book]

Authors: Deniz Zeynep Leuenberger and John R. Bartle

"Focuses on the application of sustainability and sustainable development theories to public administration practice. It's designed to guide planning, resource management, and outcomes measurement for future and current non-profit and public managers. ... Introduces sustainable development and related theories; ties these theories to public administration practice; and elaborates on applications to specific PA specializations including energy management, transportation, water, waste management, urban development, wildlife conservation, and higher education. It also includes a chapter specifically geared to outcome measurement of sustainability goals in public and non-profit agencies." - from publisher.

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Energizing our future : rational choices for the 21st century [book]

Authors: John Wilson & Griffin Burgh

"Presents a comprehensive review of practical alternative energy choices for the twenty-first century. It addresses three critical energy-related topics that are causing great confusion in public debate: global warming, the hydrogen economy, and nuclear power - and gives readers an opportunity to form a grounded, factually correct foundation for understanding the energy challenge and develop their own informed and actionable opinion." - cover.

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Complex science for a complex world : exploring human ecosystems with agents [book]

Edited by: Pascal Perez and David Batten

It is well known that human activities are endangering the stability and sustainability of many fragile ecosystems. This title looks at the science that addresses the frontiers of interactions between human behavior and environmental responses.

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The Economics of climate change mitigation : policies and options for global action beyond 2012 [online]

Author: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)

"Addresses key climate policy issues including: an ideal set of climate policy tools; the size of the economic and environmental costs of incomplete country or sector coverage of climate change mitigation policies; how to concretely develop a global carbon market; the case for, and what can we reasonably expect from, R&D and technology support policies; and the incentives for major emitting countries to join a climate change mitigation agreement." - abstract.

The ABC of carbon : issues and opportunities in the global climate change environment [book]

Author: Ken Hickson

"An illustrated, alphabetical digest with an encyclopaedic approach to carbon and climate change. ... Opinions and facts are gathered together alongside global personalities and advocates for action. Insights into the latest research and innovations to produce energy that is carbon-free and climate-friendly." - publisher's website.

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Global cleantech and environmental capital providers guide [online]

Author: Thomas Su / Money Cat Consulting

"Guide for companies and professionals in the fast growing cleantech, environmental, green, renewable energy industries seeking to raise investments from global markets." - publishers website. This directory contains the contact details of more than 500 global investment institutions which provide capital for start-ups, middle stage business, expansion capital, infrastructure and other purposes.

Voluntary carbon markets : an international business guide to what they are and how they work [book]

Written and edited by Ricardo Bayon, Amanda Hawn and Katherine Hamilton

"Draws together all the key information on international voluntary carbon markets with commentary from leading practitioners and business people. It covers all aspects of voluntary carbon markets around the world: what they are, how they work and, most critically, their business potential to help slow climate change." - publisher's website.

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