News

• Follow-on legislation needed to enforce California renewables target – ARB

  19 April 2011

  California regulators are thrilled that the state's 33% renewable portfolio standard (RPS) has been enshrined into law, but warned that follow-up legislation is needed to govern how the mandatory target will be enforced, a top regulator told Environmental Finance.

• SO2 and NOx markets to rise again, says EPA official

  19 April 2011

  A top US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) official has pledged that the moribund US sulphur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) markets will thrive again, but reiterated that the agency's ability to preserve the value of current allowances is limited.

• Speculation mounts over Italian solar incentives

  15 April 2011

  Italy's solar photovoltaic (PV) sector has hit out at the rumoured changes to the country's incentive regime, recommending the government adopt a 'German style' approach free from capacity caps and with a staggered reduction in subsidies.

• Biodiversity finance stalling on lack of understanding, transparency

  15 April 2011

  Biodiversity markets are in dire need of an influx of fresh capital, but a lack of transparency and understanding is deterring private investment, experts said.

• UK pension funds at particular risk of fossil fuel reassessment – analyst

  14 April 2011

  The overweighting of the UK stock market towards fossil fuel companies means that UK pension funds are at particular risk of any sudden reassessment of the viability of high-carbon energy sources, according to a leading analyst.

• US loan guarantees for solar rescued from cull

  14 April 2011

  US solar energy advocates praised Congressional supporters of the Department of Energy's (DOE's) loan guarantee programme for thwarting an attempt to withdraw the programme's remaining stimulus funds.

• REDD report renews McKinsey cost curve criticism

  14 April 2011

  A Greenpeace report which slams consultancy firm McKinsey & Company for its work advising rainforest countries such as Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, Congo and Guyana, has prompted renewed scrutiny of a key methodology used to assess carbon abatement.

• German renewables sector unfazed by nuclear fund stoppage

  14 April 2011

  A decision by four of Germany's nuclear utilities to stop payments into a renewables fund has not caused concern for the country's renewable power industries, according to the German Renewable Energy Federation (BEE).

• Leading carbon exchange bids to revive market hobbled by theft

  14 April 2011

  Leading spot carbon exchange BlueNext is to bar any carbon allowances and credits whose ownership cannot be traced back to their issuance, to create a 'safe zone' free of stolen carbon credits in a move backed by leading banks and utilities.

• Cutting Europe's €320m nitrogen pollution bill will benefit climate

  14 April 2011

  A greater focus on the effects of nitrogen emissions could spur technologies that combat climate change, according to the author of report which estimates nitrogen pollution costs Europe as much as €320 million ($463 million) annually.