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Property begins to measure up
01 November 2008Sustainable buildings are beginning to be seen as better investments, but by how much and over what timeframe are questions than need answering, says Keith Bugden
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Back on track?
01 November 2008Congress has finally renewed crucial renewable energy tax credits – but with the wind and biodiesel sectors already anxiously looking to their next renewal, and recession looming, it's not all good news for the sector. Gloria Gonzalez reports
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ASX to list renewables, carbon
01 November 2008The Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) is to launch futures and options contracts for renewable energy certificates and carbon pollution permits and also has ambitions to service New Zealand's emissions trading scheme.
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Oil, recession, weigh on renewables and carbon
01 November 2008Falling oil prices and growing recession fears have hit renewable energy stocks and carbon prices – but analysts remain confident the medium-term outlook is positive for both markets.
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Activists questionWorld Bank's renewables boost
01 November 2008TheWorld Bank Group's claim that it has increased funding for renewable energy and energy efficiency projects by 87% is misleading because of the inclusion of large hydropower projects and funding provided by a separate entity, say environmental observers. The seemingly impressive increase in investment also masks a larger rise in funding for fossil fuel projects, they say.
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Clean-tech venture capital bucks market – for now
01 November 2008Venture capitalists (VCs) have poured record amounts into clean technology companies this year, according to two reports, and investment in the sector has accelerated despite the credit crunch.
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SRI 'becoming mainstream', as assets jump
01 November 2008The European market for sustainable and responsible investment (SRI) was worth €2.7 trillion ($3.7 trillion) in 2007, according to figures released in October by the European Sustainable Investment Forum (Eurosif). This is equivalent to 17.5% of the European asset management industry.
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Voluntary carbon market set to double in 2008
01 November 2008Volumes and prices in the voluntary carbon market are still rising, but participants have warned that the market is not yet feeling the full effect of the global economic crisis.
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EC eyes market solution to deforestation
01 November 2008The European Commission has called for a target to halt global deforestation by 2030, to be delivered partially through a 'Global Forest Carbon Mechanism' (GFCM), under a post-2012 climate agreement.
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People moves this month
01 November 2008GREG RADFORD has been appointed director for environment and social development at the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private sector arm of the World Bank. He will oversee sustainability issues, including climate change and the IFC's management of environmental and social risks.