News

  • Sustainability ratings used for information, not action

    11 September 2012

    Companies producing corporate sustainability ratings need to "work harder" to prove their worth, according to a survey of sustainability experts which found that fewer than half regularly use them for engagement or to make investment or purchasing decisions.

  • Emerald reaches first closing for third fund

    11 September 2012

    Emerald Technology Ventures has reached a first close for its third clean-technology venture capital (VC) fund, with engineering group ABB, chemicals firm Clariant and unnamed family offices investing.

  • 'No controversy' on clean-tech sector outside Washington

    11 September 2012

    Many Republican governors have embraced the jobs created by the growing US clean technology sector, unlike their national colleagues who are seeking to dismantle federal programmes that facilitate the industry's financing, according to a report published last week.

  • Carbon market in crisis, needs 'urgent, forceful intervention' – CDM review

    10 September 2012

    A high-level panel of experts has urged countries to "intervene forcefully" to rescue the carbon market created by the Kyoto Protocol's Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), under threat from low prices.

  • More real estate companies report on sustainability

    06 September 2012

    Almost 450 property companies and funds have responded to the Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark (GRESB) survey in its second year, but more than a third of these firms are still considered 'green starters', providing limited disclosure to investors.

  • 'Healthy outlook' for ILS markets as investment surges – Aon Benfield

    06 September 2012

    Growth in the insurance-linked securities (ILS) market looks set to continue following a "stellar year" of performance, according to Aon Benfield Securities.

  • Obama and Romney divided on clean energy policy

    06 September 2012

    US Democrats reiterated their commitment to clean energy, drawing a stark contrast to a Republican platform geared more toward fossil fuels.

  • Climate change tops investors' ESG agenda – UN PRI

    06 September 2012

    Institutional investors managing $2 trillion in assets have identified climate change, supply chain labour standards and executive remuneration as the most important environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues, according to a UN survey.

  • EU to probe Chinese solar imports

    06 September 2012

    The European Commission is to investigate the dumping of Chinese solar panels in Europe, in what it describes as its most significant anti-dumping complaint to date.

  • DC court overreached in CSAPR ruling – law professor

    06 September 2012

    The DC Circuit Court acted aggressively in overruling the US Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) latest effort to control power plant emissions, going beyond the usual level of judicial oversight of federal agencies, according to one legal expert.