With some major shifts now occurring in the global energy supply stakes, a recent study by the CRC for Coal in Sustainable Development (CCSD) shows that solar thermal energy is emerging as a cost-competitive source of electrical power, especially because it can combine beneficially with current energy sources such as coal power generation.

A $750 000 federal grant is the first instalment of a $2 million rescue package to strengthen research and counteract the effects of the highly contagious cancer which has already wiped out up to half of Tasmania's devil population, forcing protection measures to save the now threatened species.

After more than 300 days sampling at sea, scientists for four major research agencies have begun compiling a rich picture of seabed life across the length and breadth of Australia's Great Barrier Reef Marine Park to form the basis of maps, databases and management tools that will help marine resource managers conserve important habitats and biodiversity, and ensure that fisheries are ecologically sustainable.

The House of Representatives Environment and Heritage Committee has opened an inquiry to determine the feasibility of a national sustainability charter aimed at measurable outcomes across the built environment, water, energy, transport, and general ecological footprint reductions.

At a 20-nation fisheries conference held in Wellington during February, New Zealand announced an unprecedented arrangement to ban destructive seabed trawling in approximately one-third of its waters; the largest closure to this controversial type of fishing in any national zone.

In a democratic initiative organised by Britain's BBC, people around the world have been using the spare computing power of their PCs to help run complicated projections on climate change impacts, via a screen saver.

Sunshine Coast Laundry Services is set to be the first commercial operator in Australia to clean fabrics with ozone - a process pioneered by NASA that heavily reduces the amount of water, energy and chemicals used to clean fabrics in standard laundries.

A new 'Cold Spray' coating method developed by printing engineers the Kirk Group and researchers at CSIRO Manufacturing & Infrastructure Technology could revolutionise the manufacturing of printing rollers.

Under a successful two-pronged strategy targeting Thailand's thriving drug trade across the infamous Golden Triangle, sustainable agriculture is successfully supplanting poppy growing by providing alternative profit and a better lifestyle for farmers in the rugged region.

With the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) warning that at least 60 per cent reductions in greenhouse gas emissions will be needed to stabilise emissions at double pre-industrial levels, organisations across a range of industry sectors are now considering where such deep cuts can be achieved at a profit.

In Australia, we're facing some of the biggest environmental challenges to date, and water scarcity is at the top of the list, but we are still to tackle the tough decisions about its competing uses. The Water Resources Observation Network is a new development that promises to transform national water resource management through harnessing high technology.

In one of the most ambitious bids to save a large animal from extinction, the world's last wild horse is returning to its native steppe.

Industry is looking to nature's examples of sublime efficiency to find ways to improve the sustainability of our production and consumption systems.

The 2002 book, Biomimicry, describes a new science that studies nature's best ideas and then imitates these designs and processes to provide innovative and sustainable solutions for industry and research development. Author and international expert, Janine Benyus, is focusing on working with industry and governments across the globe to implement her ideas.

Can we truly find solutions to some of society's most pressing problems? According to Canadian Steve Waddell, author of Societal Learning and Change, we most certainly can. His book outlines a collaborative process for innovative resolutions in large scale, complex challenges which involve multiple and varied stakeholders.

Avoiding Dangerous Climate Change. Edited by H. Schellnhuber, W. Cramer, N. Nakicenovic, T. Wigley and G. Yohe

Building for Life: Designing and Understanding the Human-Nature Connection by Stephen R Kellert

Nature and Society: Patterns in Space and Time by David Tranter

Using new sonar technology, scientists are discovering, mapping and monitoring the seabed off Victoria and have been astounded by some of the underwater features they have found, including old laval flows, dune fields, ancient lakes, rivers and coastlines, rare marine plants and other intriguing wonders of the deep.

A new technique that can predict where metal quality is lost in the recycling process could make recycling cost-effective and reduce the need for raw material inputs.

Forthcoming events related to sustainable development.