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Clean Air 'fix' does little for allowance markets
01 March 2010A legislative fix for the embattled Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR) programme has been introduced in the US Senate, but vague language and doubts about the bill's prospects mean uncertainty continues to swirl around the likely value of sulphur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) allowances.
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Climate talks inch forward
01 March 2010Efforts are under way to rebuild momentum in the international climate negotiations, after more than 100 countries expressed support for the Copenhagen Accord and with an extra meeting scheduled for next month.
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US biofuels industry applauds RFS rule
01 March 2010The embattled ethanol industry got a major boost from the US government in February with the publication of the final Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) rule, which clarifies biofuels targets, and which is expected to encourage investment in the sector.
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WestLB unveils lending policy on coal-fired power plants
01 March 2010WestLB, one of the largest lenders to the energy sector, has published what is understood to be a first-of-its-kind environmental policy for private sector lending to coal-fired power plants – requiring that they be ready to fit carbon capture and storage equipment and meet high efficiency standards.
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Time for a Green Development Mechanism?
01 March 2010There is an urgent need to mobilise finance behind efforts to tackle biodiversity loss. Could a CDM-like offset mechanism be the answer, ask Julian Metcalfe and Francis Vorhies
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Competing for cover
01 March 2010A tough and increasingly crowded market for environmental insurance providers has been good news for their customers. But with environmental regulation in the spotlight, are things set to change? Gloria Gonzalez reports
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Return of the IPO?
01 March 2010Clean-tech companies have some of the brightest prospects coming out of the recession. But will they be tapping the public equity markets in 2010? Christopher Cundy reports
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Obama to up renewables funding, cut fossil subsidies
01 March 2010Clean energy was a winner in US President Barack Obama's proposed budget, with major funding increases despite his pledge to control spending.
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Warming to the chill
01 March 2010An unexpectedly cold winter in the northern hemisphere is refocusing attention on the weather risk markets. Christopher Cundy reports
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In defence of cap and trade
01 March 2010As the climate change debate intensifies, proponents of cap and trade are on the defensive. But many of the arguments against emissions trading are – knowingly or otherwise – based on fallacies. Trevor Sikorski makes the case for the market