News

• Green Deal Finance Co eyeing billions in green bonds

  17 February 2012

  The company set up to facilitate a major UK energy efficiency programme has drawn up plans for a multi-billion pound green bond programme.

• EIB climate action lending dips to €18bn, but percentage rises

  16 February 2012

  The European Investment Bank (EIB) lent €18 billion ($24 billion) for "climate action" in 2011 – down from €20.5 billion in 2010, but up as a percentage of the bank's total lending.

• Insurers eye weather risks for renewables

  16 February 2012

  Insurers are expecting business from renewable energy projects to grow, notably in protecting them against a lack of natural resources, according to brokerage firm Marsh.

• ADB nears approval for $1.5bn renewables project fund

  16 February 2012

  The Asian Development Bank (ADB) hopes to secure final board approval this week on a $1.5 billion fund to boost clean energy investments in the region, an official said.

• Al Gore's Generation renews call for sustainable capitalism

  16 February 2012

  Responsible investors have not made the business case for sustainability, according to Generation Investment Management, the investment firm chaired by Al Gore, as it attempts to reignite the debate around sustainable capitalism.

• Stalled EU energy efficiency law 'damaging investor confidence'

  16 February 2012

  Continued disagreement among EU nations over the draft energy efficiency directive (EED) could lead to weaker targets and drain investor confidence in energy efficiency, business groups and NGOs have warned.

• Hedegaard confident that Rio+20 can deliver

  15 February 2012

  Connie Hedegaard, the European Commission's climate chief, expressed confidence that a noteworthy agreement would emerge from the Rio+20 conference.

• Citi pushing for 'Global OPIC' to back renewable energy bonds

  15 February 2012

  The head of environmental finance at Citi is canvassing support for a "Global OPIC" to help raise large volumes of debt for renewable energy projects.

• Investors welcome UK renewables reforms, but eschew solar

  14 February 2012

  Managers of funds investing in UK renewable energy projects have welcomed some of the proposed changes to feed-in tariffs (FiT) announced last week, but say they are unlikely to invest in new solar projects.

• Proportion of top-rated ESG strategies to rise, says Mercer

  14 February 2012

  Around 9% of investment strategies assessed by Mercer are "highly rated" in environmental, social and governance (ESG) terms, a number the investment consultant expects to rise.