News

• Pension funds targeted in climate disclosure campaign

  03 October 2012

  A campaign to encourage pension fund managers to reduce their exposure to climate risks is urging beneficiaries to write in and demand action.

• Sumitomo buys stake in major US solar farm

  03 October 2012

  Japanese industrial giant Sumitomo has taken a 25% stake in the 550MW Desert Sunlight project, the largest solar photovoltaic (PV) power plant to be approved on US soil, for an undisclosed sum.

• Cargill to avoid high-carbon shipping

  02 October 2012

  Three companies are to avoid chartering the least-efficient vessels in the global shipping fleet, in a bid to reduce the environmental impact of their businesses.

• Commission stalls ship emissions regulation

  02 October 2012

  The European Commission has confirmed it will delay plans to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from shipping, but will work on monitoring, reporting and verification systems.

• Criminals hinder efforts to stop deforestation – UN

  02 October 2012

  Organised criminals are behind at least half of the logging in tropical countries, threatening efforts to combat climate change and conserve forests, and are using investment funds to mask illegal forestry activities, according to a UN report.

• US power plants strained by heat, drought – UCS

  01 October 2012

  Power plants in the US have been strained by this summer's heat and drought, with operators having to reduce power production or shut down reactors, according to the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS).

• Landmark Moroccan solar project nears financial close

  01 October 2012

  Financing for an estimated €750 million ($967 million) solar project in Morocco is within weeks of being finalised, with most funding likely coming from international development banks.

• Chinese environmental projects get $600m of ADB finance

  28 September 2012

  Four environmental projects in China have received a total of $600 million in lending from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), including two that are considering selling carbon credits.

• Macquarie, Barclays close second offshore wind licence

  27 September 2012

  Infrastructure investors Macquarie Capital and Barclays were behind a £110 million ($178 million) winning bid to buy the rights to operate the transmission line for the UK's 184MW Walney 2 offshore wind farm.

• Solar tax credits likely to survive next Congress, say experts

  27 September 2012

  The solar investment tax credit (ITC) is likely safe from repeal and could even be revamped to allow for a longer phase-out, according to some renewable energy experts.