News

• Romania's plans to overhaul green certificate scheme could 'deter investors'

  03 April 2013

  Romania is planning to slash subsidies for new renewable power plants and hold back some of the green certificates that existing installations are set to receive up to 2017 – a move observers say could deter investors from the country's booming renewables sector.

• Ecosystem services rising up agenda for bank economists

  03 April 2013

  There is greater willingness among investment bank economists to discuss incorporating ecosystem services into their economic modelling and "a much greater level of informed discussion" on the topic, according to three fund managers.

• EPA sets higher mercury pollution limit for new power plants

  03 April 2013

  The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has raised the proposed mercury emissions limits for new power plants, after complaints that the initial targets were not achievable.

• China's ICBC commits $2bn to South African renewables projects

  02 April 2013

  Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) has agreed to provide ZAR20 billion ($2.17 billion) of debt for South African renewable energy projects, helping to address a looming liquidity squeeze.

• $1.9trn energy subsidies hurting clean-tech investment - IMF

  28 March 2013

  Governments around the world are spending $1.9 trillion a year in fuel subsidies, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has calculated, a policy it blamed for driving up energy consumption and hurting clean energy investments.

• Investors, PE firms back new ESG disclosure framework

  28 March 2013

  More than 40 leading investors have backed a new framework for the disclosure of environmental, social and governance (ESG) information by private equity funds, in an effort to bring the two sides of the industry together on the issue.

• HSBC identifies firms set to gain from rising climate ambitions

  28 March 2013

  HSBC's climate change team has identified companies that it believes will benefit from an expected uptick in efforts to address the issue.

• F&C to launch report into water risk to power sector

  28 March 2013

  Asset manager F&C Investments is to release its first ever report into water risk in the utilities sector, it has revealed.

• Suzlon issues $647 million wind bond

  27 March 2013

  Indian wind turbine maker Suzlon has issued a $647 million bond backed by the State Bank of India (SBI), giving it "much needed head-room" to refinance its foreign currency debt.

• Companies falling short in sustainability actions – Oekom

  27 March 2013

  Only one in six large, publicly-listed companies demonstrates "a good level of commitment to sustainable development", according to specialist rating agency Oekom Research.