-
Transport starts to move
01 June 2009President Obama's recent deal on fuel efficiency with the beleaguered US car industry is the latest evidence of the environmental pressures coming to bear on the transport sector. Sarbjit Nahal and Valéry Lucas-Leclin consider which stocks are set to benefit
-
New fund manager aiming for €200m enviro fund-of-funds
28 May 2009A recently launched fund manager claiming "depth and breadth" in experience is understood to be hoping to raise €200 million ($279 million) into a low-carbon technology private equity fund of funds.
-
Brazil boosts biodiesel blending requirement to 4%
27 May 2009Biodiesel producers in Brazil cheered the government's decision last week to increase the compulsory biodiesel blend from 3% (B3) to 4% of diesel fuel, beginning on 1 July.
-
Investors call for stronger carbon market
21 May 2009An alliance of institutional investors managing €4 trillion in assets has called for carbon markets to be strengthened and broadened – but is also calling for alternative policies to attract climate-related investments in developing countries.
-
Biopetrol chief slams German government for bringing biodiesel sector low
20 May 2009The chief executive of biodiesel producer Biopetrol Industries launched a stinging attack on Germany's politicians – including the Chancellor Angela Merkel – for almost destroying the country's biodiesel sector through double standards, egoism, bowing to special interests and politicking.
-
VC investment in clean-tech plummets – Ernst & Young
14 May 2009The 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 2009US 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 2009A 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.
-
US biofuels stimulus package provides mixed relief for producers
06 May 2009US 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 2009Investors 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.