News

• Fraud charges laid against fake green technology firm

  23 February 2011

  Six people involved in a company that claims to provide technologies to tackle global warming have been charged by the US Department of Justice with defrauding investors in a stock manipulation scheme from 2003 to 2008. The individuals and a seventh person are also facing civil charges brought by the US Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) in relation to fraud occurring from late 2006 to April 2007.

• BP biofuel breakthroughs imminent

  23 February 2011

  BP is poised for a major advance in its biofuel operations, as it is completing commissioning of the world's first biobutanol pilot plant and plans to begin full–scale production later this year at its Vivergo Fuels facility, one of the world's largest ethanol production plants.

• Drax calls for biomass co-firing support as capacity left idle

  22 February 2011

  The operators of England's 4GW coal-fired power station Drax today admitted to leaving its biomass capacity partially idle because of "insufficient regulatory support".

• NRDC to judge 'green' claims of climate bonds; first standard to be unveiled next week

  21 February 2011

  The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) has been named as the first member of the body that will give the stamp of approval to 'climate bonds', ahead of the publication next week of the first green bonds standard.

• Record number of shareholder calls for US, Canadian energy firms to disclose environment risks

  21 February 2011

  Energy companies in the US and Canada are facing a burgeoning shareholder revolt over inadequate disclosure of environmental risks.

• Philips commits €2bn for green R&D

  18 February 2011

  Electricals giant Royal Philips Electronics says it will commit €2 billion ($2.7 billion) towards green R&D investment over the next five years, and is aiming for 'green products', such as low-energy electricals and PVC-free televisions, to account for half of its sales by 2015.

• Chevron investors shrug off $8.6bn pollution fine

  17 February 2011

  An Ecuadorian court has a slim chance of enforcing an $8.6 billion pollution fine against Chevron, according to one lawyer, and investors seem unconcerned with the development.

• Republicans to block Obama's green spending plan?

  17 February 2011

  Renewable energy and energy efficiency were major winners in President Barack Obama's proposed budget, but a fiscal battle with Congressional Republicans casts serious doubt on the likelihood of any funding increases.

• Figueres voices support for carbon tax

  17 February 2011

  Christiana Figueres, the shepherd of UN climate change talks, this week voiced support for a carbon tax to address global warming.

• Emerging market executives take lead on sustainability – survey

  17 February 2011

  'Sustainable' business practices are seen as more important in the developing world than in developed countries, according to a survey of executives – and the gap is set to widen.