News

• Japan's nuclear turnaround to prompt renewables rush – HSBC

  13 May 2011

  Japan could increase installations of renewable power capacity by up to 3.5GW a year, HSBC Global Research calculates, as the country rethinks the role of nuclear power in the light of the Fukushima disaster.

• US loan guarantee funds for renewables 'running out'

  13 May 2011

  Renewable energy developers looking for US government financing can no longer rely on the loan guarantee programme funded by the economic stimulus package.

• Tepco dropped from Dow Jones socially responsible investment index

  13 May 2011

  Tokyo Electric Power (Tepco) has been dropped from the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes (DJSI) family, following "a significant reduction in Tepco's sustainability score" in the aftermath of the Fukushima nuclear disaster.

• Shareholder action on sustainability being used more aggressively – E&Y

  12 May 2011

  Investors are more aggressively using shareholder proxies to force companies to take action on environmental and social issues, a trend that will accelerate in 2011, according to Ernst & Young (E&Y).

• Cement firms eye biodiversity, water goals after CDM disappointment

  12 May 2011

  Cement companies will look to introduce goals on water usage and biodiversity preservation, following the disappointing outcome to a plan that would have addressed carbon emissions, said the Cement Sustainability Initiative (CSI).

• Al Gore, Levi's and PG&E rally around sustainability

  12 May 2011

  The two largest US pension funds have teamed with leading companies such Levi Strauss and Pacific Gas & Electric, and an Al Gore-founded investment firm, in a commitment to promote environmental sustainability and tackle climate change.

• Insurers face $5.5 billion bill from US tornadoes, floods

  12 May 2011

  The outbreak of severe weather in the US last month could cause losses of $5.5 billion for the insurance industry, according to early projections.

• Dangerous chemicals list sparks concern for investors

  12 May 2011

  Investors are increasingly concerned about how companies are complying with the EU chemicals legislation REACH and whether they are looking to phase out potentially dangerous chemicals, experts said.

• Lack of financing holding up business energy efficiency investment

  12 May 2011

  Funding remains the biggest barrier to energy efficiency investment in Europe, a survey of more than 800 business leaders has found, but industry commentators say increased availability of funding mechanisms, such as energy performance contracting and municipal bond programmes, will promote investment.

• Boost energy efficiency for free

  12 May 2011

  Improved education and a greater focus on supply chain management can accelerate energy efficiency improvement in the manufacturing process, with some strategies not costing a cent, say industry and UN commentators.