EIANZ Divisions have commenced their AGMs, with Tasmania and SEQ the first to kick off their meetings on 29 July and 7 August. 

EIANZ encourages members to join their local AGM and take advantage of the opportunity to contribute your thoughts and ideas. Your suggestions and comments will guide your local Division and Chapter's activities and focus for the year ahead.
Learn more about your local AGM →

This week, IUCN released the Cambridge Handbook on Climate Litigation. The new project from the IUCN World Commission on Environmental Law’s Climate Change Law Specialist Group represents a comprehensive resource for climate change litigation.

Climate litigation has surged globally with over 2,500 cases filed worldwide as insufficient government action has prompted legal challenges to address climate change. The Cambridge Handbook on Climate Litigation, edited by Margaretha Wewerinke-Singh and Sarah Mead, provides a comprehensive 20-chapter guide covering key issues like standing, human rights, and state responsibility in climate cases. The handbook serves as an authoritative resource for judges, lawyers, and scholars navigating this rapidly evolving legal field whilst offering insights into how climate litigation might contribute to future law, policy, and planetary survival.

The Handbook is available for free online.
Learn more →

Following the announcement of the new First Nations Economic Partnership this week, the Department of Climate Change, the Environment, Energy and Water (DCCEEW) is seeking expressions of interest from service providers to help design and deliver the First Nations Clean Energy Program. The program aims to boost Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples' leadership in clean energy opportunities and includes pilot project funding and a clean energy toolkit to improve access to expertise, information and project funding for First Nations communities. 

A webinar will be held next Monday, 11 August, to provide an overview of the consultation paper, the Program and the Have Your Say process.
Learn more about the First Nations Clean Energy Program →
Register for the webinar →
Submit to the First Nations Clean Energy Program consultation →

As a result of an issue raised recently by an EIANZ member, DCCEEW have updated their approval notice decision arrangements to ensure the following reference is captured in future Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) approvals:

The approval holder must ensure that any monitoring data, surveys, maps, and other spatial and metadata required under the conditions of this approval are prepared in accordance with the Guidelines for biological survey and mapped data, Commonwealth of Australia 2018, or as otherwise specified by the Minister in writing.
Learn more about the EPBC Act →

The Climate Change Authority is seeking input on its 2025 Annual Progress Report (APR) to inform the Minister’s 4th Annual Climate Change Statement to Parliament. The 2025 APR will track progress towards Australia's emissions reduction targets and assess climate policy impacts using leading indicators to show where emissions are heading. The Authority must also advise whether cumulative Safeguard facility emissions are declining in line with targets set under the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Act 2007

The Authority’s advice and the Minister’s statement are both required under the Climate Change Act 2022. Submissions close 17:00 AEST, 1 September 2025.
Learn more →
Read the 2025 Issues Paper →

The Minister for the Environment and Water is seeking expressions of interest from natural heritage experts to join the Australian Heritage Council.  Appointments are made based on skills and experience in areas such as historic heritage, Indigenous heritage, or environmental conservation. EIANZ encourages suitably qualified members to express their interest via the link below.
Learn more →

This week, Aotearoa New Zealand's Prime Minister, Christopher Luxon, announced plans to reform the Conservation Act to streamline the broken concessions system that currently takes years to process, allowing more tourism, agriculture, and infrastructure projects on conservation land.

The government will introduce visitor charges of $20-40 for foreign tourists at four high-volume sites (Cathedral Cove, Tongariro Crossing, Milford Sound, and Aoraki Mount Cook), generating up to $62 million annually for reinvestment in conservation areas. New Zealanders will continue to access all conservation sites for free, as the government aims to boost jobs and economic growth whilst protecting special locations.
Learn more →

The Hawke's Bay Nature Fund in Aotearoa New Zealand opened on 4 August 2025, offering approximately $500,000 in grants from a conservation bequest for community predator control and native species replanting projects. Community groups, private landowners, iwi, and agencies across Hawke's Bay can apply for funding to create wildlife habitats and address environmental challenges through nature-based solutions.

Applications close on 26 September at 5pm, with successful applicants to be notified in November after assessment by an expert panel including the Department of Conservation (DOC) Te Papa Atawhai, iwi, and community representatives.
Learn more →

The University of New South Wales' (UNSW) upcoming short course, Managing Urban Heat, is being offered at a 20% discount for EIANZ members,.

Managing Urban Heat was developed by the UNSW School of Built Environment, led by Scientia Professor Mat Santamouris and Associate Professor Lan Ding. The course explores practical and policy-based approaches to mitigating urban heat, with a strong focus on climate resilience and sustainable urban environments.

EIANZ members can use the code EIANZ20 at the registration checkout to apply the discount.
Learn more about Managing Urban Heat →
Register for Managing Urban Heat here →

And finally, EIANZ's flagship program, the Certified Environmental Practitioner (CEnvP) Scheme, recently underwent its five-yearly external audit against ISO 17024:2012 (General requirements for bodies operating certification of persons) and successfully met the necessary compliance standards, futher ensuring the highest standards of credibility, reliability, and trust in professional qualifications.

Of interest​​​​​

Australia

Residents propose Bondi solution for Noosa's toxic, brown Burgess Creek
Learn more →

Great Barrier Reef suffers biggest annual drop in live coral since 1980s after devastating coral bleaching
Learn more →

Marine climate interventions can have unintended consequences – we need to manage the risks
Learn more →

Wet and wintry weekend in store for NSW, with warnings of heavy rainfall and damaging winds
Learn more →

Rockabye baby: the ‘love songs’ of lonely leopard seals resemble human nursery rhymes
Learn more →

New Zealand

Scientists urge coalition not to weaken methane target
Learn more →

Kamchatka earthquake is among top 10 strongest ever recorded. Here’s what they have in common
Learn more →

Wood smoke, traffic fumes polluting Christchurch's air
Learn more →

Sleepy birds, quiet dawns: how noisy, bright city nights disrupt and change birdsong
Learn more →

Stunning footage shows whale freed after being tangled in anchored chain
Learn more →

Global

Dinosaur teeth reveal prehistoric air quality was pretty awful, actually
Learn more →

Here’s what to watch for at this month’s global plastics treaty talks
Learn more →

Copenhagen turns to creative green engineering to outsmart future floods
Learn more →​​​​​​​

​​​​​​​If you'd like to respond to any of the news, contact us at office@eianz.org to find out how we can assist.

Professional development

Upcoming EIANZ events

View all upcoming EIANZ events →

Upcoming AGMs

Upcoming partner events

Open for submission

If you'd like to contribute to an EIANZ submission, contact us at office@eianz.org to find out how.  

New

Australian Heritage Council: Expressions of interest now open | Australian Heritage Council | Closes 31 August 2025
Learn more →

Have Your Say: First Nations Clean Energy Program | The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water | Closes 31 August 2025
Learn more →

2025 Issues Paper Consultation | The Climate Change Authority | Closes 1 September 2025
Learn more →

Greenwashing Inquiry | Parliament of Australia: Senate Standing Committees on Environment and Communications | Closes 12 September 2025
Learn more →
Read EIANZ's previous submission →

Still open

Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage (Resource Management and Administration ) Regulations 2011 remake: exposure draft | Department of Industry, Sciences and Resources | Closes 8 August
Learn more →

Gas Market Review Consultation | The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water | Closes 15 August
Learn more →

Application for a Marine Mammal Permit by Eventes Event Management Limited | Department of Conservation | Closes  18 August
Learn more →

Australasian Catchment Water Improvement Standard (ACWIS) Consultation | EcoMarkets Australia | Closes 18 August
Learn more →

National Consumer Energy Resources (CER) Roadmap - Data Sharing Arrangements – M2 | Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water | Closes 20 August 2025
Learn more →

National Consumer Energy Resources (CER) Roadmap - Redefine roles for market and power system operations – M3/P5 | Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water | Closes 20 August 2025
Learn more →

Application for a lease, licence, easement concession at Ruapara Bay | Department of Conservation | Closes 22 August
Learn more →

2025-26 National and Commonwealth heritage nominations round | Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water | Closes 29 August 2025
Learn more →

Sustainable investment product labels | The Australian Treasury | Closes 29 August
Learn more →

Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade Route National Heritage Assessment | Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water | Closes 2 September
Learn more →

Proposal to approve a reduction in the width of a marginal strip adjoining Opanuku Stream | Department of Conservation | Closes 5 September
Learn more →

Offshore carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) under the Environment Protection (Sea Dumping) Act 1981 | Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water | Closes 12 September 2025
Learn more →

Algal blooms in South Australia | Parliament of Australia: Environment and Communications References Committee | Closes 28 October
Learn more →

Select Committee on PFAS (per and polyfluoroalkyl substances) | Parliament of Australia: Select Committee on PFAS  | Closes 19 November
Learn more →

Aotearoa New Zealand’s World Heritage Tentative List | Ministry for the Environment | Closes 30 January 2026
Learn more →

Opportunities for the development of a hemp industry in Australia | Parliament of Australia: Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee | Closes 30 July 2026
Learn more →

Jobs board

Explore the newest opportunities advertised on our Jobs Board

View all jobs →

In case you missed it - headlines from last week's issue

Institute Insider #429

EIANZ announces new partnership with the International Association for Impact Assessment (IAIA)

EIANZ's New Zealand Chapter submits three packages on the Resource Management Act (RMA) reform

DCCEEW holding a free webinar on 12 August on implementing the Murray Darling Basin Plan

Djaara (the Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation) signs a 3-year partnership with the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder 

The Australian government to invest $2.25 million to protect wetlands and $15.6 million for Reef protection

The Australian Heritage Council (AHC) assesses adding the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade route to the National Heritage List

Updates about environmental developments in Aotearoa New Zealand from the Department of Conservation (DOC) Te Papa Atewhai

Read Institute Insider issue #429 here →

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