Weather events are becoming more unpredictable, more intense and more damaging, posing huge challenges in both preparing for and recovering from their growing impact, says Jeremy Kelly, Global Director of Cities Research at JLL echo adrotate_group(33, 0, 0, 0); From extreme heat across southern Europe to the heaviest rainfall on record in Shenzhen and Hong Kong, to flooding in Brazil and cyclones devastating parts of southern Africa, cities face unprecedented physical risks. Continue →

A request for proposals to construct the Humboldt Cable has been issued, which looks to connect with cable systems across Asia and to other countries and territories including New Zealand echo adrotate_group(33, 0, 0, 0); Desarrollo País and H2 Cable are looking to begin construction of the estimated 15,000 km Humboldt Cable, the first to connect Latin America, the Asia Pacific and Oceania. Continue →

New research reveals that while overall business confidence has continued trending downwards, 94% of construction and manufacturing SMEs are confident about the next 12 months echo adrotate_group(33, 0, 0, 0); The latest RFI Global research commissioned by Prospa highlights the ongoing uncertainty in New Zealand’s business climate, with business confidence continuing to trend downwards despite earlier post-covid optimism. Continue →

The Commerce Act clearly states that the Commerce Commission must promote incentives for energy efficiency, but is failing to do so and letting down consumers, Ecobulb Managing Director Chris Mardon says echo adrotate_group(33, 0, 0, 0); Despite the clear direction in government legislation, the Commission does nothing to encourage energy efficiency which could reduce consumers’ bills. Continue →

Despite there being a focus on mainly cutting CO2 emissions, international researchers say methane emissions were responsible for about half of global warming between the preindustrial period and the 2010s, and have laid out three steps to get this under control echo adrotate_group(33, 0, 0, 0); An international team of climate researchers writing in Frontiers in Science set out three imperatives to cut methane emissions and share a new tool to help us find the most cost-effective ways of doing so. Continue →

Central government is for nation-building and local government is for community-building, but successive central governments have failed at respecting this, Greater Auckland’s Connor Sharp writes echo adrotate_group(33, 0, 0, 0); An unidentified National party spokesperson said just last year, local government has an important role to play, but too often, councils are an after-thought for central government. Continue →

The newly elected Government intends to re-introduce 90-day employment trial periods, but is this a good and commercially safe way for employers to take on new personnel? Continue →

The Sydney Metro City line opened on 19 August, adding 15.5-kilometres of new metro rail to the city with frequent passenger services operated by driverless trains echo adrotate_group(33, 0, 0, 0); The new section of the M1 Northwest & Bankstown Line opening in August extends the existing Metro North West line from Chatswood, below the harbour and under the Sydney CBD, then out to Sydenham. Continue →

A proposed Kaipara-based $730 million waste to energy incinerator to burn Auckland’s rubbish and produce electricity could be operational by 2028 By Susan Botting, Local Democracy Reporter Northland echo adrotate_group(33, 0, 0, 0);Artist’s impression of the proposed waste to energy plant in Waimate, south Canterbury that SIRRL has been pushing to build since 2021. Continue →

New water policies have been welcomed by Civil Contractors New Zealand, but its Chief Executive Alan Pollard says contractors are suffering from a lack of immediate work, despite the severe need for upgrades to water infrastructure echo adrotate_group(33, 0, 0, 0); The key detail of the Government’s Local Water Done Well policies is that the New Zealand Local Government Funding Agency Limited (LGFA) can now lend to water Council Controlled Organisations (CCO) that are financially supported by their parent council(s). Continue →