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Biofuel-friendly US Farm Bill voted through with huge majority
01 June 2008The US Congress has voted overwhelmingly to pass legislation that shifts tax breaks towards cellulosic ethanol production and renews support for biodiesel production. Lawmakers are also debating revisions to the tax code that would stop 'splash and dash' trades, which has led to the EU being flooded with cheap biodiesel routed via the US.
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McCain's plan opens door to offsets
01 June 2008Presumptive Republican presidential candidate John McCain unveiled his climate change plan on 12 May, calling for a cap-and-trade scheme that would initially allow the use of offset credits for 100% of compliance. He also pledged to engage in UN-led negotiations on a successor agreement to the Kyoto Protocol, which expires in 2012.
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$20bn boost for US?wind power supply chain
01 June 2008Companies supplying the US wind-energy industry should be the biggest winners of plans by Texas oilman T Boone Pickens to build America's largest wind farm in the Texas panhandle, analysts say.
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Noble Environmental to blaze trail with Nasdaq IPO
01 June 2008US wind energy developer Noble Environmental Power has filed plans to raise up to $375 million via an initial public offering on Nasdaq – the first time a significant US wind energy developer has tested the public markets.
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Fund managers 'a long way' from addressing environmental risks
01 June 2008The fund management industry as a whole increasingly recognises that environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues can influence risk and drive returns, but it is struggling to integrate them into its day-to-day operations, according to a new study.
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Carbon market worth $64bn in 2007 – World Bank
01 June 2008The value of the global carbon market doubled last year, to $64 billion, the World Bank said last month in its annual State and Trends of the Carbon Market report. However, growth in transactions from new Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) projects came to a halt last year and risks plummeting as the Kyoto Protocol's expiry in 2012 nears.
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Private equity giant to develop environmental metrics
01 June 2008Leading US private equity firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co (KKR) is to require companies in which it invests to measure and improve their environmental performance, in a partnership with Environmental Defense Fund (EDF). The two organisations are to develop pilot metrics that they hope will be rolled out across KKR's portfolio and, ultimately, more widely.
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Shell turns away from landmark wind project
01 June 2008Royal Dutch/Shell is weathering a storm of criticism after confirming plans to sell its stake in the London Array – a massive 1,000MW offshore wind farm.
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Exxon resists shareholder revolt on climate, governance
01 June 2008ExxonMobil has resisted pressure to strengthen its response to climate change by the descendants of the company's founder, John D Rockefeller, as well as by large institutional shareholders, including the $250 billion California Public Employees Retirement System.
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Coalition questions EBRD and IFC?financing for ArcelorMittal
01 June 2008Multilateral banks are under fire for continuing to finance the expansion of ArcelorMittal, despite the steel giant's questionable record on meeting environmental, social and human rights standards.