News

• EBRD earmarks €3-5bn for sustainable energy

  14 May 2009

  The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has unveiled plans to invest €3 billion-5 billion ($4 billion-7 billion) in the second phase of its Sustainable Energy Initiative (SEI), over 2009-11. The SEI Phase 2 aims to attract private sector co-financing of an additional €9-15 billion in efficiency and renewable energy projects, and reduce some 25-30 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions (Mt CO2) each year.

• WWF slams Commission proposal on carbon leakage

  14 May 2009

  The European Commission's plans to offer the EU's biggest polluters free emissions allowances to protect them from overseas competition could undermine the bloc's climate change credibility and reduce its clout in Copenhagen, warned the WWF today.

• VC investment in clean-tech plummets – Ernst & Young

  14 May 2009

  The economic gloom caused a significant drop in US venture capital (VC) investment in clean technology firms in the first quarter of 2009, according to Ernst & Young.

• REG merges with single-plant biodiesel producers

  13 May 2009

  US company Renewable Energy Group (REG) has announced a plan to merge with three commercial-scale biodiesel plants in a move designed to better position the company to meet higher demand.

• Real estate fund managers link sustainability and returns

  07 May 2009

  A resounding 95% of real estate fund managers believe there is a relationship between environmental performance and financial returns, according to a survey of UK and European property funds. However, "the majority felt this [relationship] was difficult to quantify at the current time," said Aviva Investors, sponsors of the survey along with the Environment Agency Pension Fund.

• BAT issues second report on sustainable smoking

  07 May 2009

  British American Tobacco published its 2008 sustainability report last week, outlining its approaches to reduce the harm caused by tobacco products and announcing targets to lessen its environmental impact.

• Guidelines created to help free up finance for energy efficiency

  07 May 2009

  A set of guidelines to help financial institutions evaluate the risks and quantify the benefits of energy efficiency investments has been launched by the Washington, DC-based non-profit Efficiency Valuation Organization (EVO).

• Wrangling threatens Waxman's cap-and-trade timetable

  06 May 2009

  Closed-door negotiations are continuing on a US federal cap-and-trade proposal after President Barack Obama urged Congressional Democrats to resolve key differences in the hopes of passing comprehensive climate change legislation this year.

• US biofuels stimulus package provides mixed relief for producers

  06 May 2009

  US ethanol producers praised efforts announced yesterday by President Barack Obama's administration to aid the struggling biofuels sector, but vowed to keep pushing to prevent the inclusion of indirect land-use change (ILUC) in the assessment of the environmental impacts of domestic ethanol production.

• Sentiment improves for environmental sector

  01 May 2009

  Investors have strongly supported fund raisings by renewable energy and clean technology firms, bringing a boost to the sector which was hit hard in the market downturn. But the outlook remains highly uncertain, with more pain expected, analysts say.