News

• Climate change raises spectre of insurance market failure

  26 February 2009

  Climate change increases the possibility of the failure of insurance markets, according to a Chartered Insurance Institute report, which cites the need for better measures of market robustness.

• UK government steps into carbon neutrality minefield

  26 February 2009

  The UK has proposed a definition of "carbon neutrality" in an effort to help standardise the term and reduce consumer confusion around its use. But experts warn that too strict a definition could hinder more than help.

• Recession sends climate down the corporate agenda – EIU

  26 February 2009

  Many global businesses foresee putting climate change action on the back burner as the recession continues to bite, according to a survey by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU). Firms will embrace energy efficiency measures in a bid to cut costs, the researchers found, but many plan to delay more ambitious action.

• Cat bond market set to bounce back

  26 February 2009

  French insurance company Scor sold a $200 million catastrophe (cat) bond last week, ending the six-month hiatus in cat bond issuance caused by the collapse of Lehman Brothers and the general malaise in financial markets.

• Certifier UL approves use of petrol pumps for 15% ethanol

  25 February 2009

  After strong objections from the US ethanol lobby, a major product safety certification organisation has reversed course and agreed that standard petrol pumps can dispense safely petrol mixed with up to 15% ethanol.

• RiskMetrics acquires Innovest for $16 million

  19 February 2009

  Financial research and advisory firm RiskMetrics is to buy Innovest Strategic Value Advisors, a leading environmental, social and governance (ESG) research company.

• Pictet hoping for €1 billion in 'megatrends' fund

  19 February 2009

  Pictet is launching what it claims is a first-of-its-kind 'megatrends' fund that includes exposure to its water, clean energy and timber investment themes.

• Exchange to list US voluntary carbon credits

  19 February 2009

  The Chicago Climate Futures Exchange (CCFE) will tomorrow list futures contracts for carbon offsets registered under the US Climate Action Reserve.

• Carbon market speculators get caught short

  19 February 2009

  Yesterday saw the largest ever volumes in Europe's carbon market, as speculators betting on a further collapse in prices found themselves caught out.

• Analyst expects CCS to surge following US stimulus package

  19 February 2009

  Carbon capture and storage (CCS) has received a fillip from the US, with $3.5 billion earmarked in President Barack Obama's stimulus package for demonstration projects and growing support at the state level.