News

• Banks must do more on climate – BankTrack

  02 April 2009

  Banks are not doing enough to ensure they are not "financing climate catastrophe", BankTrack has said.

• ESG applied to $300 billion of investment in emerging markets

  02 April 2009

  More than $300 billion is invested in 'sustainable' emerging market funds, or mainstream funds which have promised to integrate environmental, social and governance (ESG) analysis into their investment process, according to the first survey of the sector, commissioned by the International Finance Corporation (IFC).

• International task force to plan green stimulus strategy

  02 April 2009

  The World Economic Forum has set up a task force to identify how to create millions of green jobs and put long-term economic growth on a sustainable, low-carbon path.

• US market welcomes Waxman-Markey climate bill

  02 April 2009

  Congressmen Henry Waxman and Ed Markey have received plaudits for a bill that would create an emissions trading system in the US.

• Clean-tech and energy investment halves in first quarter

  02 April 2009

  Investment in clean technology and clean energy plummeted in the first quarter of 2009, according to figures published this week.

• Weather risk volumes drop as speculators rein in activity

  01 April 2009

  The financial crisis has taken its toll on the weather risk markets, with 2008 trading volumes on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) dropping 16% compared with the previous year, as hedge funds and financial institutions reduced their activity. However, participants report a healthy level of transactions with 'end-users' – the ultimate users of weather risk products.

• Auction, EPA reveal doubts over SO2 and NOx markets

  01 April 2009

  An auction of US sulphur dioxide (SO2) allow­ances for use in 2016 cleared at $6.63/ton, a level well below most market expectations and one that reflects the increasing uncertainty about the future of existing US emissions markets.

• Jupiter calls off launch of China sustainability fund

  01 April 2009

  Jupiter Asset Management has postponed its planned China Sustainable Growth fund as commitments from investors failed to reach $50 million, seen as the minimum launch size.

• Danish pension giant sees inflation hedge in climate investments

  01 April 2009

  Danish pension fund ATP has announced a $400 million allocation to renewable energy private equity firm Hudson Clean Energy, and has made its first investment out of a $500 million pot for sustainable forestry.

• Consensus sells down clean-tech portfolio

  01 April 2009

  The UK-based Consensus Business Group, which made a big splash into clean technology investment in 2006, has been selling down its clean-tech investment portfolio to shift assets into property.