-
TXU private equity bid goes through
01 October 2007TXU 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 2007Ascot 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 2007Several 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.
-
Japan's brownfields brought to bear
01 October 2007Japan is coming to terms with its recent industrial heritage, bringing a boom to its soil remediation market. But new accounting rules and investor scrutiny could accelerate the disclosure of some hidden liabilities, say Greg Rogers and Miki Mitsunari
-
Going for the green and the gold
01 October 2007The first in-depth report on clean technology financing in Australia finds the country lagging behind North America and Europe, but developing areas of specialisation. Anastasia O'Rourke reviews its findings
-
Warm words, but a warming world
01 October 2007The US administration is finally catching up with the rest of the world when it comes to tackling global warming. The major emitters group meeting – convened by George Bush in Washington at the end of last month – saw US Secretary of State Condaleezza Rice make a clear and long-overdue pledge to show leadership on the issue. "It is our responsibility as global leaders to forge a new international consensus on how to solve climate change," she said, addressing representatives of the 16 countries, plus the EU and the UN, in the "major economies meeting on energy security and climate change", which brings together fast-growing large developing countries such as China, India and Brazil with the industrialised world.
-
Between a REC?and a hard place
01 October 2007Markets for carbon reductions and renewable energy certificates already co-exist in the US. But, with mandatory, national schemes planned, how they interact is becoming a pressing issue, say Jasmine Haneef and Ben Pinchin
-
Climate meetings set stage for Bali
01 October 2007High-level meetings held by the United Nations and the White House have helped build political will for a new global agreement to tackle climate change, according to observers. But, despite warm words from US President George Bush, the US remains opposed to mandatory limits on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
-
Nuclear revival – threat or opportunity?
01 October 2007As governments mull over how to encourage low-carbon generating capacity, renewable energy investors are looking anxiously for signs of support for nuclear power. But, say Sean Gammons and Richard Hern, it is far from clear how such support might weigh on their investments
-
A new prosperity
01 October 2007Business and finance must look beyond simple measures of profitability if they are to meet the world's social, environmental and ethical challenges, says John Gummer