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 →

While mental health in the construction is improving overall, more support is needed for the sector’s most vulnerable workers echo adrotate_group(33, 0, 0, 0); MATES in Construction, a not-for-profit organisation which supports positive well-being in the industry, surveyed more than 2000 workers, with 85% of workers reporting good mental health in 2023. Continue →

Stubbornly high costs and performance issues threaten the prospects for carbon capture and storage (CCS), according to the Institute for Energy Economic and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) echo adrotate_group(33, 0, 0, 0); In just two years, the International Energy Agency (IEA) has halved its outlook for fossil fuel use in association with CCS by 2040 and 2050 in its Net Zero Emissions (NZE) scenario. Continue →

Core to meeting countries’ emissions budgets and 2050 targets, and often conveniently ignored, is the inevitable shift from a linear to a circular economy, writes Greenbox Chief Executive Ross Thompson echo adrotate_group(33, 0, 0, 0); Global efforts against climate change have the flaky feel of a personal fitness programme – lots of good intentions and promises but at the crunch, low resolve and missed targets. 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 →

Ahead of a significant overhaul of the vocational education system, Civil Contractors New Zealand (CCNZ) has highlighted several concerns around the proposed changes 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 →