News

• EU proposes 60% transport emission cut; not tough enough for greens

  31 March 2011

  The European Commission plans to slash 60% from the EU's transport emissions by 2050, compared to 1990 levels, but environmental lobbyists said the proposal lacks ambition.

• Financiers, NGOs aid Chinese cities in low-carbon pilot projects

  31 March 2011

  China's local governments, NGOs, businesses and financiers are to collaborate on scaling-up green technologies and low-carbon financing models, under an initiative launched by the Climate Group on Monday.

• Pension fund cuts environmental impact and outperforms benchmark

  31 March 2011

  The UK Environmental Agency's £1.6 billion ($2.6 billion) pension fund has reduced its environmental footprint while boosting performance, its manager reported this week.

• Tepco disaster to hit Asian sustainability investors

  31 March 2011

  Sustainability investors are to be caught in the fall-out from Japan's nuclear disaster, after it emerged that the company responsible is a component of a leading sustainability index family.

• Japan's insured losses could reach ¥2.5 trillion

  25 March 2011

  Corrected: We reported that Atlas Re had a note put on 'credit watch', in the aftermath of the earthquake. Environmental Finance has since learned this was based on incorrect information. Final paragraph has been edited to correct this mistake.

• Nuclear disaster may dim hopes for US clean energy support

  24 March 2011

  The near-meltdown of nuclear reactors in Japan may derail already shaky prospects for a US clean energy standard (CES) and an expansion of the US nuclear fleet.

• Brokerage group to acquire Spectron for £95m

  24 March 2011

  Spectron's business in environmental commodities is one of the attractive parts of its operation, according to the company that is set to acquire the brokerage firm.

• Shipping will look to LNG to reduce emissions, cut fuel costs

  24 March 2011

  Liquified natural gas (LNG) – not crude oil, biofuels or mini nukes – will be the shipping fuel of choice in 2020 as the price of bunker fuel rises and tougher emissions regulations drive the maritime industry toward greener energy sources, according to research from verification and validation company Det Norske Veritas (DNV).

• Trading Emissions eyes sale of clean energy assets by June

  24 March 2011

  London-listed renewable energy and carbon investment company Trading Emissions is likely to sell its portfolio of clean energy businesses by June, according to its investment adviser.

• UK's Green Investment Bank launches next year, with £3bn in kitty

  23 March 2011

  The UK's Green Investment Bank (GIB) will launch in 2012, with £3 billion ($4.9 billion) of public money to support low-carbon development, the UK government announced today, to a mixed reaction from investors and analysts. The bank will be allowed to borrow – but not for five years, the Treasury said.