In the face of accelerating climate change impacts – in particular the frequency and intensity of severe weather events – local energy (or distributed energy resources, DER) can play a significant role in increasing individual household, local community and systemwide resilience. This paper represents an early attempt to recognise this potential role. 

TEC believes the controversial development of Gilead by Lendlease for housing in western Sydney has breached a number of key policies and should be curtailed. Clearing works have just begun. The policies involve fundamental provisions for biocertification, retention of tree canopy and conservation of koalas. We hear a lot about better quality development – but can government actually implement it? 

Sue Salmon, an esteemed campaigner who worked for the Australian Conservation Foundation and in the Commonwealth Parliament, has returned to her parent's farm and is now witness to the destruction being wrought by the NSW government’s land clearing laws. She is fighting to save them and has local supporters.

I’m usually a patient person but the faffing around with the waste crisis is becoming hard to bear. Eighteen months ago when the long promised China ban on our kerbside recyclables came into effect due to contamination, state and federal governments convened urgent taskforces of stakeholders and a wide representation of departments.

The Australian reported today that some retailers have blamed plastic bag bans for a loss of sales, imperilling the economy.  What’s worse the Commonwealth Treasury gave credence to the reports by putting it into an official submission to the Treasurer.

New governments have been elected in NSW and federally - creating new challenges - and in our experience, there are always opportunities. TEC has been working to protect the environment for 47 years – and we will continue the fight! What's on the agenda?

It’s not a choice between jobs and the environment, but how to transition in a way that manages inevitable dislocation and also prevents ongoing, damaging and serious environmental impacts on present and future generations. This is the challenge for the new federal and NSW ministers for the environment and industry.

There’s quite a bit of soul searching about whether the recent federal election result reflected a lost climate election that caused significant damage to the global heating campaign; or is just a bump in the road. Climate change skeptics, cynics, anti-environment ideologues and opportunists are as one columnist said 'wagging their fingers' and telling us to get on with more coal fueled power stations; others are championing nuclear power.

The NSW ALP waste and recycling policy released today is a substantial set of commitments that will make a big difference to our recycling crisis and reduce plastic pollution, environment groups said today.  

From the Strathfield Golf Club to the Waverly Bowling Club and right across Sydney our greens are being eaten up!  These sporting greens may no longer be viable, but they can still be made available and improved as green spaces for Sydney residents, Total Environment Centre said today, noting overdevelopment is a potent state election issue.  

The growing focus on urban parks and trees, so essential to Sydney’s liveability - with announcements by both political parties, was welcomed by Total Environment Centre, today.  The urban park and tree massacre must stop, TEC said.

As the political parties battle for western Sydney seats with promises of new national koala parks - 20 environment and animal welfare groups have called on western Sydney state and federal MPs to take action to save Sydney’s koalas by ensuring Koala habitat and corridors are safeguarded before planned massive residential subdivisions.