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Weather deal to save African farmers from famine
01 October 2007Swiss Re has sold a series of weather derivative contracts to protect African farmers from poverty and famine in event of drought ruining their harvest.
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EU energy package to boost renewables – Commission
01 October 2007Renewable energy developers will benefit from proposals to simplify and make more competitive Europe's energy market, according to the European Commission.
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Real estate investor buys up conservation fund
01 October 2007MuniMae Mortgage & Equity has moved into the ecosystems services business, with the acquisition of the Sustainable Land Fund for an undisclosed sum.
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People moves this month
01 October 2007TOM FROST, a former associate director and emissions and renewable energy specialist at UK-based stockbroker Numis Securities, has joined fast-growing Icelandic bank Kaupthing.
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Climate Group plans China campaign
01 October 2007The Climate Group is launching awareness-raising campaigns in Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong as part of its efforts to engage influential businesses and city governments to lead "a coalition of the willing" against global warming. It also aims, this month, to start exploring the potential for the creation of a low-carbon economy in the Pear River delta.
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TXU private equity bid goes through
01 October 2007TXU shareholders have approved the buy-out of the Texas-based utility by an investor group who pledged to slash its plans to build new coal-fired plants.
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Lloyd's launches renewables business
01 October 2007Ascot Underwriting, part of the Lloyd's of London insurance syndicate, has launched a division dedicated to the renewable energy sector. Ascot Renewco opened its books on 1 September, and has already written its first policies.
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Green groups press SEC on Planktos
01 October 2007Several environmental organisations have called on the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to act on what they say are "potentially illegal statements" made by Planktos, a firm planning to generate carbon credits by fostering plankton growth by dumping iron filings into the ocean.
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Japan's brownfields brought to bear
01 October 2007Japan is coming to terms with its recent industrial heritage, bringing a boom to its soil remediation market. But new accounting rules and investor scrutiny could accelerate the disclosure of some hidden liabilities, say Greg Rogers and Miki Mitsunari
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Going for the green and the gold
01 October 2007The first in-depth report on clean technology financing in Australia finds the country lagging behind North America and Europe, but developing areas of specialisation. Anastasia O'Rourke reviews its findings