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The results of the government's first reverse auction of carbon-cutting projects have been released. Where is the money going? The government will spend A$660 of its A$2.55 billion Emissions Reduction Fund on contracts set to reduce emissions by some 447 million tonnes, more than half of it in "carbon farming" projects to lock up carbon in vegetation. Federal environment minister Greg Hunt described the outcome as a "stunning result" for Australia, pointing out that the average price of A$13.95 per tonne of carbon is cheaper than the previous government's carbon pricing scheme. But critics have pointed to the lack of involvement so far from industry sectors that were covered by the previous carbon tax, and the fact that the new scheme is paid for by taxpayers rather than the businesses creating the pollution. Here are the numbers:"

"More than 1,500 barrels of crude oil per day gushed from the "Jake" oil well when EOG Resources drilled and fracked the well into the Niobrara shale in northern Colorado in the fall of 2009. That gusher marked the beginning of one of the biggest oil booms in the state's history, part of a larger shale oil rush playing out in Colorado, Texas, North Dakota and elsewhere today making the U.S. the world's leader in oil production this year. Those booming shale oil and gas plays are all successful because of advances in fracking and horizontal drilling technology and the speed with which companies are drilling new wells. In some regions, the booms are playing out near homes and schools in suburban areas, particularly in Colorado, where they contribute to widespread concern about climate change-driving methane leaks, air pollution, groundwater contamination and the industrialization of residential areas."

"Food manufacturers could be facing their tobacco moment as growing consumer awareness on well-being turns towards commodities such as sugar, a global report says. The report on sugar, compiled by the Credit Suisse Research Institute, highlights the need for the food and beverage industry to tackle the focus on obesity head-on by joining a diversification into new healthier products."

"Natural Capitalism Orginally written in 1999 by Paul Hawken, Amory B. Lovins, and L. Hunter Lovins, "Natural Capitalism: Creating the Next Industrial Revolution" is a ground-breaking blueprint for a new economy."

"The Australian Greenhouse office (AGO) is the world's first government agency dedicated to cutting greenhouse gas emissions. It was established in 1998 as a separate agency within the environment portfolio to provide a whole of government approach to greenhouse matters. The AGO is also responsible for the energy star (http://www.energystar.gov.au) and energy rating (http://www.energyrating.gov.au) mandatory programs for buildings, domestic appliances and industrial equipment. "

"Climate change in Australia provides essential tools for government, industry and the community to understand the likely magnitude of climate change in Australia and the possible impacts." It studies Temperature, Rainfall, Humidity, Sea surface Temperature, Wind speed, Potential evapotranspiration, Downward solar radiation

"The International Institute for Industrial and Environmental Economics at Lund University "

"Recently reported leaks of water containing high levels of radioactive uranium from a coal seam gas (CSG) wastewater pond operated by Santos in New South Wales put the spotlight on an industry already wracked by controversy. Most concerns over CSG have to date focused on "fracking" - fracturing deep rock strata to get at gas in coal seams - but as the incident shows, waste produced by CSG wells and brought to the surface is another major environmental issue."

"A new report from the World Bank, 'Turn Down the Heat' warns that already global warming of around 1.5°C above pre-industrial times is locked into the Earth's atmospheric system. Unless we act now to reduce emissions, warming of probably 4 degrees will occur within our century, and everyone will feel the impact, particularly the poor."

"Published on 28 Jan 2015 Rigged prices, fudged figures, and the unchecked electricity industry. Brought to you by The Undercurrent."

"On 1 January 2009 the Victorian Energy Saver Incentive (ESI) scheme was launched to promote the uptake of energy efficiency improvements in residential premises. Submissions are invited on the key issues set out in this document and any other matters that stakeholders consider relevant."

The Grattan Institute report looked at how viable a carbon price would be for Australia's largest industries. In this Slow TV video, report authors John Daley and Tristan Edis show how a carbon price won't bring about job losses, increase prices or send big business broke.

"The Kyoto Protocol is an international agreement linked to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The major feature of the Kyoto Protocol is that it sets binding targets for 37 industrialized countries and the European community for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions .These amount to an average of five per cent against 1990 levels over the five-year period 2008-2012. "