News

• Climate talks inch forward

  01 March 2010

  Efforts are under way to rebuild momentum in the international climate negotiations, after more than 100 countries expressed support for the Copenhagen Accord and with an extra meeting scheduled for next month.

• US biofuels industry applauds RFS rule

  01 March 2010

  The embattled ethanol industry got a major boost from the US government in February with the publication of the final Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) rule, which clarifies biofuels targets, and which is expected to encourage investment in the sector.

• WestLB unveils lending policy on coal-fired power plants

  01 March 2010

  WestLB, one of the largest lenders to the energy sector, has published what is understood to be a first-of-its-kind environmental policy for private sector lending to coal-fired power plants – requiring that they be ready to fit carbon capture and storage equipment and meet high efficiency standards.

• Obama to up renewables funding, cut fossil subsidies

  01 March 2010

  Clean energy was a winner in US President Barack Obama's proposed budget, with major funding increases despite his pledge to control spending.

• Swedish tech group makes $150m move on Tricorona

  01 March 2010

  Swedish energy and environmental technology firm Opcon has announced an all-share offer for emissions-reduction project developer Tricorona.

• Most firms ignore investors' forest info request

  01 March 2010

  An investor-led effort to urge companies to disclose their 'forest footprint' has published its first report, with 35 firms responding.

• Foreign developers shut out of China's offshore wind boom

  01 March 2010

  China has opened the door to domestic wind power companies to begin developing the country's offshore resources – but has effectively shut it on international operators – with the release of regulations governing approval and ownership of offshore wind projects.

• Companies not satisfying thirst for water reporting

  01 March 2010

  One hundred water-dependent firms have been chastised by investors for weak disclosure of their exposure to water risks.

• CDP sends out carbon questionnaires to 4,500 firms

  01 March 2010

  More than 4,500 companies have been sent questionnaires about their greenhouse gas emissions and climate strategies this year by the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP). This is up from 3,700 companies questioned last year.

• Sustainability toolkit launched for forest financing

  01 March 2010

  The World Business Council for Sustainable Development and PricewaterhouseCoopers have developed a free toolkit to help financiers in forestry projects to ensure their money is invested in operations that are sustainable and legal.