News

• Huge US?renewables projects defy credit crunch

  01 September 2008

  Gigantic renewable energy projects are being developed in the US and Canada despite the credit crunch, but the looming expiration of the federal tax credit threatens to derail some projects.

• Clean-tech listings get done – at a trickle

  01 September 2008

  Ahandful of clean technology initial public offerings (IPOs) are "getting out the door", but market observers say investors remain skittish, amid mixed post-IPO performance.

• Carbon fund assets reach $12.9bn, up 63%

  01 September 2008

  Assets managed by carbon funds have grown to $12.87 billion, up from $7.9 billion one year ago, according to research* by Environmental Finance Publications, with 80 private-sector carbon funds, government procurement vehicles and buyers' pools either operational, raising money or fully invested.

• Malua BioBank sells first biodiversity credits

  01 September 2008

  The first credits from a novel biodiversity bio­bank have been sold, following a $10 million private equity investment and the establishment of what is claimed to be the first registry of its kind to track credit trades.

• EU?to link to UN?emissions trading system in October

  01 September 2008

  A long-delayed connection between the EU and the UN's two carbon credit tracking systems will be made in October, the European Commission announced last month – providing a much-needed boost to project developers and carbon traders.

• Prince and pension funds join to fight climate change

  01 September 2008

  Ten of the world's largest public pension funds and the Prince of Wales plan to launch the 'P8' initiative on climate change later this year, in time for the next round of climate change negotiations in Poznan.

• Exchanges vie for US carbon business

  01 September 2008

  Two US exchanges are listing contracts for the country's first mandatory cap-and-trade programme targeting carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, ahead of the inaugural allowance auction on 25 September by six of the 10 states involved.

• CDM Board looks to tighten rules

  01 September 2008

  The Clean Development Mechanism Executive Board (CDM EB) is moving to address concerns over the environmental integrity of the Kyoto Protocol mechanism it oversees with an array of reforms and reviews, designed to weed out projects where the emission reductions are not 'additional' to business as usual.

• Wheb Ventures beats $100 million for new fund

  01 September 2008

  Wheb Ventures has bucked tough market conditions to hit a £57 million ($106 million) first close for its second clean technology venture capital fund. The London-based fund manager is aiming for £150 million on subsequent closes, which would make it one of the largest VC funds raised in Europe to invest in early- and growth-stage clean-tech companies.

• Blackstone launches clean-tech group

  01 September 2008

  Investment and advisory firm the Blackstone Group has established a business group to focus on investments in clean energy and to advise on renewable energy strategies across the company's assets. The team is led by James Kiggen, who joins from AllianceBernstein, bringing with him two principals, Walter Vester and Richard Troyer.