News

• Weather deal to save African farmers from famine

  01 October 2007

  Swiss Re has sold a series of weather derivative contracts to protect African farmers from poverty and famine in event of drought ruining their harvest.

• EU energy package to boost renewables – Commission

  01 October 2007

  Renewable energy developers will benefit from proposals to simplify and make more competitive Europe's energy market, according to the European Commission.

• Real estate investor buys up conservation fund

  01 October 2007

  MuniMae Mortgage & Equity has moved into the ecosystems services business, with the acquisition of the Sustainable Land Fund for an undisclosed sum.

• People moves this month

  01 October 2007

  TOM FROST, a former associate director and emissions and renewable energy specialist at UK-based stockbroker Numis Securities, has joined fast-growing Icelandic bank Kaupthing.

• Climate Group plans China campaign

  01 October 2007

  The Climate Group is launching awareness-raising campaigns in Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong as part of its efforts to engage influential businesses and city governments to lead "a coalition of the willing" against global warming. It also aims, this month, to start exploring the potential for the creation of a low-carbon economy in the Pear River delta.

• TXU private equity bid goes through

  01 October 2007

  TXU shareholders have approved the buy-out of the Texas-based utility by an investor group who pledged to slash its plans to build new coal-fired plants.

• Lloyd's launches renewables business

  01 October 2007

  Ascot Underwriting, part of the Lloyd's of London insurance syndicate, has launched a division dedicated to the renewable energy sector. Ascot Renewco opened its books on 1 September, and has already written its first policies.

• Green groups press SEC on Planktos

  01 October 2007

  Several environmental organisations have called on the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to act on what they say are "potentially illegal statements" made by Planktos, a firm planning to generate carbon credits by fostering plankton growth by dumping iron filings into the ocean.

• HKEx examining emissions

  01 September 2007

  Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEx) is investigating the possibility of listing emissions-related products.

• Showdown looms in US Congress over renewables, cars

  01 September 2007

  The US Congress faces a showdown in the autumn over renewables and automobile efficiency as leaders from the Senate and House of Representatives try to reconcile energy legislation