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The low-carbon leader?
01 May 2007Last month, UK Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett gave a speech on climate change to an Anglo-American business association in New York. It set out the greenhouse gas (GHG) challenge; explained what measures the EU is taking to build a low-carbon economy; and invoked the Manhattan and Apollo projects which, respectively, built the first atom bomb and put a man on the moon, as a call to arms for investment in clean technology.
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Moving to the new US NOx and SO2 markets
01 May 2007Daniel Chartier and Melanie LaCount contend that as the US moves to the new Clean Air Interstate Rule, 'cap and trade' will once again deliver the desired results by building on the success of current programmes
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Banking on sustainability
01 May 2007The aims of sustainable development are changing the shape of modern banking. And, in emerging markets, it is increasingly being recognised that 'sustainable banking' can confer a competitive advantage, says Ajay Narayanan
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Bids soar in Repower takeover battle
01 May 2007The takeover battle for German wind turbine manufacturer Repower is moving into "stratospheric" price levels, with analysts saying that some compromise is likely between the two rival suitors, if no clear winner emerges.
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EU ETS data confuse, again
01 May 2007Companies in the EU Emissions Trading Scheme once more emitted less carbon dioxide than they were allocated allowances in 2006, according to preliminary figures published by the European Commission. However, the extent of the oversupply remains unclear because of a lack of clarity surrounding the data released by Brussels.
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First cat bond issued for flood risk
01 May 2007German insurance giant Allianz has closed the first catastrophe (cat) bond to cover river flood risk.
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International pressure grows for post-Kyoto agreement
01 May 2007Climate change should be tackled as a global "security imperative", argued UK foreign secretary Margaret Beckett during the UN Security Council's first debate on the issue on 17 April.
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Emerald raises €135 million into clean-tech fund
01 May 2007Emerald Technology Ventures has closed its second clean technology (clean-tech) fund, after raising €135 million ($183 million).
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Swiss Re closes €329 million clean energy fund
01 May 2007Reinsurer Swiss Re has raised €329 million ($447 million) into its European Clean Energy Fund. The private equity vehicle – which the company claims is one of the largest of its type in Europe – will invest in projects which are "environmentally beneficial, generate carbon credits or tradable renewable energy certificates", the company said.
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People moves this month
01 May 2007RASHAD KALDANY has been named as director of the infrastructure department at the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private sector arm of the World Bank. In addition to his responsibilities for encouraging investment in the transportation, power and sanitation sectors in developing countries, he is also tasked with widening IFC's investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency.