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The smart grid investment opportunity
20 December 2011The roll-out of Europe's smart grid and smart metering will create enormous demand for capital – and a substantial investment opportunity, says Hans Meissner
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Near record-high catastrophe claims in 2011
19 December 2011This year is set to see the second highest insured losses from natural and man-made catastrophes in history, at $108 billion, according to preliminary estimates by reinsurer Swiss Re.
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BlackRock clean energy fund eyes push into nat gas, after tough year
16 December 2011The managers of BlackRock's New Energy Investment Trust are looking at diversifying into natural gas following a year when the fund's share price fell 26.7%, against a drop of 1.3% in its performance benchmark index.
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Energy companies push for higher carbon prices
16 December 2011Some of Europe's biggest energy and manufacturing companies have called for a strengthening of the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS), in the wake of the release of the European Commission's energy roadmap and ahead of a key vote on the EU Energy Efficiency Directive (EED).
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Shareholders should beef-up tactics on engagement
16 December 2011Environmental and social resolutions can be effective tools for driving change at corporations, but more aggressive strategies should be incorporated into the shareholder engagement movement, experts said.
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A degree of change
16 December 2011The weather market hasn't escaped the effects of the drop in risk appetite in commodity markets more broadly – but end-user business remains solid and new opportunities, such as in renewable energy, are keeping participants busy. Mark Nicholls reports
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The rough with the smooth
16 December 2011It's been a dire year for EU emissions trading and the Clean Development Mechanism – but things look brighter in California and Australia. Christopher Cundy reports
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Clouds on the horizon
16 December 2011While the US has largely avoided the financing freeze afflicting the European renewables market in recent months, financiers are nervous about what 2012 might hold. Mark Nicholls reports
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Withholding judgement
16 December 2011Not for the first time, traders and emitters in the US environmental markets are anxiously awaiting possible judicial intervention – this time, in the EPA's newly minted CSAPR markets. Gloria Gonzalez reports
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US lagging on ESG due to legal, fiduciary red herrings
15 December 2011The US is falling behind other countries and regions in integrating environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors into mainstream investment decisions, largely due to perceived legal or fiduciary risks, experts said.