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Banks to raise $5 billion for 'green' building retrofits
01 June 2007Five major banks have promised to raise $1 billion each to finance a programme of energy efficiency building retrofits in 15 cities around the world. ABN Amro, Citigroup, Deutsche Bank, JPMorgan Chase and UBS will raise the $5 billion to pay for the first phase of the programme, which was launched by former US president Bill Clinton on 16 May.
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Carbon market triples in 2006 – World Bank
01 June 2007The global carbon market tripled in size to $30 billion in 2006, from $10 billion the previous year, according to a report from the World Bank. But some market participants believe that figure to be an underestimate, putting the real size of market as much as 25% higher.
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Credit Suisse commits $200 million to forestry-based carbon market
01 June 2007Banking giant Credit Suisse has taken a $200 million equity stake in a new company, Sustainable Carbon Finance (SCF), that will provide funding via the carbon credit market to environmentally-friendly forestry projects in Africa, South America and Australasia.
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EIB launches €1bn 'climate' bond
01 June 2007The European Investment Bank (EIB) has launched an index-linked bond, the proceeds of which it will invest in renewable energy and energy efficiency projects.
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Green' insurance offered to sustainable businesses
01 June 2007The first captive insurance scheme for sustainable companies is to be launched by Garnet Captive Insurance Services in collaboration with Domani Sustainability Consulting.
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Business failing to cut emissions – report
01 June 2007Businesses around the world are still failing to reduce or even monitor their carbon emissions, despite a growing awareness of the potentially disastrous effects of climate change, according to a report by the Economist Intelligence Unit.
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People moves this month
01 June 2007HSBC has appointed SIMON MARTIN as its head of group sustainability and corporate responsibility, a new role with overall responsibility for the bank's environmental management, sustainability, and corporate responsibility and philanthropy. Martin was previously HSBC's country head for Argentina.
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Suzlon seals €1.34bn deal for Repower
01 June 2007Indian wind company Suzlon has won the takeover battle for Repower, a German wind turbine manufacturer, after rival bidder Areva failed to match its €150 ($202) a share offer (see Environmental Finance, May 2007, page 6). Suzlon's winning deal values Repower at around €1.34 billion and gives Suzlon access to European wind markets.
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Mitsui buys US weather dealer
01 June 2007Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance (MSI) has bought the assets of US weather derivatives dealer GuaranteedWeather for an undisclosed sum. MSI, which has been a long-term partner of GuaranteedWeather, bought the business from Ramsey Quantitative Systems, a Louisville, Kentucky-based hedge fund.
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Drought threatens credit quality of Australian power sector – S&P
01 June 2007The extreme drought affecting much of Australia could have a negative impact on the credit quality of the country's electricity generators and retailers, according to ratings agency Standard & Poor's.