News

• Rio emissions trading delay seen likely to be short

  28 June 2012

  The passing of a law to create an emissions trading scheme (ETS) in the State of Rio de Janeiro is only likely to be delayed by a few months, according to the state's environment ministry.

• Germany's federal, state governments agree on solar tariff cuts

  28 June 2012

  Germany's federal and state governments have reached agreement to cut feed-in tariffs for German solar power by an almost identical amount to what was proposed in March, and subsidies will halt completely when the country's solar power capacity reaches 52GW.

• BlackRock tackles discount on New Energy trust

  28 June 2012

  Asset management firm BlackRock is to offer investors in its New Energy Investment Trust a cash exit in 2014 at the net asset value (NAV) of the fund – a move that should reduce the persistently large gap between the NAV and the market price, the company says.

• MSCI launches ESG portfolio reporting tool

  28 June 2012

  MSCI has unveiled a tool to help fund managers and pension funds assess the environmental, social and governance (ESG) risks within equity portfolios.

• Oulton to leave Mercer

  28 June 2012

  Will Oulton has been replaced by Aled Jones as Mercer's head of responsible investment for Europe, the Middle East and North Africa.

• EPA victory to open the door for carbon trading?

  27 June 2012

  The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) scored a major victory in its quest to regulate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, which could help pave the way for the agency to establish market-based mechanisms.

• VC clean-tech fund raises $300m

  27 June 2012

  US venture capital (VC) investment firm Braemar Energy Ventures has closed its third fund at $300 million, it announced today.

• ESG risks make Felda IPO 'worse than Facebook' – Profundo

  26 June 2012

  Investors in Malaysian palm oil firm Felda face poorly-disclosed environmental, social and governance (ESG) risks, according to Dutch economic research consultancy Profundo, which warns Felda's listing this week "may turn out worse than Facebook's".

• Capital markets key for renewables financing – S&P

  26 June 2012

  New banking regulations will make borrowing more expensive for developers of renewable energy projects, but highly-rated bonds may be the answer, according to ratings agency Standard & Poor's (S&P).

• Netherlands renewables shortfall presents €24bn opportunity – Rabobank

  26 June 2012

  The Netherlands will need to direct an additional €24 billion ($30 billion) towards the development of renewable energy in order to meet its 2020 renewable energy target, according to a report by Rabobank.