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"United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has said that the battle for global sustainability will be won or lost in the world's cities. Cities and urban areas are estimated to account for 80 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions, and more than half of the world's population live in them, so what we do in our urban centres will, to a large extent, define the future of our world. Governments are struggling to agree on action against climate change, but thankfully many city authorities are just getting on with tackling the problem as best they can. Element takes a look at what authorities in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch are expecting, how they are trying to minimise the damage and preparing for the worst, and how their plans shape up against those elsewhere."

"- What does sustainability mean? - Why are we currently unsustainable? - What is an ecological footprint? - What's the problem with plastic? - What about water? - And biodiversity? - How are people faring? - How can we find a sustainable path? - What are some great sustainability initiatives? This video introduces the concept of sustainability and explains our current situation on this planet, even before any potential challenges from climate change are involved. From the Australian Research Institute for Environment and Sustainability (ARIES) at Macquarie University, Sydney. "

"Shining a Light on Sustainability is an introductory video from the Australian Research Institute for Environment and Sustainability at Macquarie University, Sydney.  This video introduces the concept of sustainability and explains our current situation even before any potential challenges from climate change are involved. What does sustainability mean? Why are we currently unsustainable? What is an ecological footprint? What's the problem with plastic? What about water? And biodiversity? How are people faring? How can we find a sustainable path? What are some great sustainability initiatives?"

"Entries are now open for the ResourceSmart Schools Awards 2013! Sustainability Victoria's ResourceSmart Schools Awards recognise and reward the sustainability efforts of Victorian primary and secondary schools, and celebrate the work of teachers and students who are leading the way for future generations. With prize money and resource support up for grabs, the awards are a great opportunity to boost your school profile, network with other Victorian schools that are excelling in sustainability and celebrate with your whole community. Entries close 5pm, Thursday 1 August 2013. See details below about awards categories, how to enter and support information."

"Last week, the New York Times reported that venerable Dow Jones Industrial Average component Coca-Cola Co. was awakening to the impact of climate change on its business. The increase in unpredictable weather, droughts, floods and other climate-related events was disrupting the company's product supply. Some of their "essential ingredients" are now under threat. Global warming, according to the article, is being seen "as a force that contributes to lower gross domestic products, higher food and commodity costs, broken supply chains and increased financial risk." This debate is no longer about whether global warming is real (it is) or whether humans are the most likely cause (you are), but rather, some very interesting and different questions that might be more professionally relevant to finance: How is this going to affect business? What are the investing consequences? Who will be the financial winners and losers of climate change?"

"These maps are based on data from the Clean Energy Regulator, the Australian Government agency tasked with the administration of the Renewable Energy Target. For each postcode and local government area, the map shows the estimated percentage of dwellings that have a PV system and the total photovoltaic capacity installed. Most of the PV systems in Australia are small-scale rooftop installations; however there are a number of larger-scale PV power stations with a capacity of more than 100 kW. These power stations are indicated by individual markers. Live performance data is available for systems in the Desert Knowledge Precinct in Alice Springs, and at the University of Queensland."

Been toying with the idea of using Augmented Reality in your classroom or library? Here's your chance to use the latest in AR to excite your students and get them looking at environmental issues through a new lens, then lens of their smart phone, iPad or tablet. If you are looking for a super #edtech way to engage your students, I have just the thing for you this World Environment Day - June 5. How about  a 700 x 1156 pixel poster which when scanned with the Augmented Reality (AR) app Layar will display rich  media elements.

"On 9 May 2013 The National Sustainability Council presented Sustainable Australia Report 2013 to Minister Burke. The report provides a picture of Australia - what we look like and who we are. It tells the story of how we have changed as a nation over the last 30 years. We have made great progress in many areas. Australians are living longer, our health and levels of educational attainment have improved. We have benefited from a strong economy, with low unemployment and increasing incomes. However, inequality has increased and the health of our natural environment has continued to decline in some key areas. The report provides an evidence base for decision-making and planning about the future. It highlights a number of trends in Australia and the world that are set to have a significant impact on the next generation of Australians. We need to plan for an ageing population, rising health costs, growing cities and changes in traditional work and family roles. The National Sustainability Council intends to use the report, the first of its kind in Australia, as a starting point for a national conversation about our future."

"THE Customer DATA centers run by Apple are now entirely fueled by renewable energy, as are 75% of all its corporate facilities, according to the company's recently released 'Apple and the Environment` report. But despite the commitment demonstrated by building one of the world's largest solar arrays, as well as a biogas plant, beside its new iCloud facility in Maiden, North Carolina, the annual review of environmental impact also acknowledges that the total greenhouse gas emissions attributable to Apple's products and operations rose by 34% in 2012."

"The Face of Climate Change - Climate change can seem like a remote problem for our leaders, but the fact is that it's already impacting real people, animals, and beloved places. These Faces of Climate Change are multiplying every day. Fortunately, other Faces of Climate Change are multiplying too: those stepping up to do something about it. Help us personalize the massive challenge climate change presents by taking a photo and telling your story. How has climate change impacted you? What are you doing to be part of the solution?"

"Gadgets get discarded at ever faster rates and account for millions of tons of consumer electronic waste every year. To feed production, more and more resources are claimed and we are beginning to suffer from the immense burden on the natural and social environment. What is the purpose of driving the technological advancement? Does it help us create something that will last? Where are we going so fast? We don't know. Or do we?"

"The founders of the Education Arcade at MIT stated that there are many intrinsic motivations for learning associated with games. The threat of failure is lowered. Games allow players to try, make mistakes or fail, and then try again without losing face. Discovery and application of learned skills in new contexts encourages exploration and experimentation. A sense of engagement continues during gaming. Computer games allow players to be stakeholders in the events that occur on the screen. Increasingly, there are a number of games being developed that help people learn about the issues involved in sustainable developement. Besides which ... they are fun!"

New model - Reduced price

"Most Australians overestimate how much they are doing for the environment compared to others, and are more concerned about water shortages, pollution and household waste than climate change, a new CSIRO survey reveals. Taken over a period of July to August last year, it is the latest in a series of annual national surveys on Australians' attitudes to climate change involving more than 5000 people from across urban, regional, and rural Australia. (You can read about past survey results here and here.)"

"The Gunditjmara seasonal calendar is presented for the interest and information of the broader community to demonstrate the Gunditjmara people's deep understanding of the environment in which they lived. Traditional seasonal calendars are very different to western calendars. For Indigenous people, seasons are not bound to specific dates but are based on climatic conditions. The on-set of rains or the arrival of hot weather signified the passage of time and triggered different activities."

"South Gippsland is blanketed with more than a dozen licences for unconventional gas exploration - which uses controversial techniques to extract hard-to-reach gas. For now, nothing is happening. In August 2012, the state government announced a moratorium on coal seam gas exploration and on the drilling method known as fracking, in which water, sand and chemicals are pumped underground at great pressure to fracture coal or rock, and release gas. Even so, people are worried, fearful about risks to water supplies and local health, as well as the price and productivity of their land. Poowong has declared itself "coal and coal seam gas free" and six other towns are likely to do the same before the year is out."

"There's currently a very big difference between what the major parties contesting the election are planning to do for our environment. And hopefully there are still plenty of big announcements to come over the course of the election campaign! But if you want to be spared all the somersaults and politicking and just get the facts when they matter, sign up to Envirotracker below for an election-eve update on what the major parties are promising for our environment."

"Earlier this year, the 1 millionth Australian household - about one in nine across the country - installed solar photovoltaic panels. There are half a million with solar hot water services too. The process doesn't always go as expected, for reasons both practical and political: rebates and feed-in tariffs have been in flux in every state. But now there are so many systems on roofs, solar homeowners are gaining a stronger public voice."

"A new report released today into Australians' attitudes to mobile phone usage and recycling shows that there are now 23 million old mobiles in Australia ready to be recycled - one for every person - and this number is expected to increase. 'Mobile Australia: A report into how we use and recycle our mobiles' developed by not-for-profit recycler, MobileMuster, is the first time a report of this nature has been publicly released, showing that Australians are more aware than ever of mobile phone recycling but are holding onto their old mobiles for range of reasons [1]." http://www.mobilemuster.com.au/media/39176/mobilemuster_annualreport_2013_lr.pdf

"For more than a decade, the question of how global warming is affecting the scariest storms on the planet - hurricanes - has been shot through with uncertainty. The chief reason is technological: In many parts of the world, storm strengths are estimated solely based on satellite images. Technologies and techniques for doing this have improved over time, meaning that there is always a problem with claiming that today's storms are stronger than yesterday's. After all, they might just be better observed."