News

• Nord-Pas de Calais issues €80m municipal SRI bond

  21 September 2012

  France's Nord-Pas de Calais region has issued an €80 million ($104 million) bond whose proceeds will be ring-fenced for socially responsible investment (SRI), in the third such deal arranged by Crédit Agricole this year.

• California launches largest PACE bond programme

  20 September 2012

  California will be home to the largest municipal bond programme in the US to finance renewable energy and efficiency projects in commercial buildings, with the new programme authorised to issue up to $14 billion in bonds.

• Ambienta marketing second private equity fund

  20 September 2012

  Italian asset manager Ambienta is pre-marketing a potentially €300 million ($388 million) private equity fund to invest in European environmental technology companies.

• Guangdong steps closer to carbon trading launch

  20 September 2012

  Guangdong, China's largest emitting province, has taken two significant steps towards the launch of its pilot greenhouse gas emissions trading scheme (ETS), with the drafting of framework regulations and the launch of an emissions trading platform in the capital, Guangzhou.

• Water-tech outperforms other climate themes in HSBC index

  20 September 2012

  The water waste and pollution control sector has edged ahead of the other sub-sectors in HSBC's Climate Change Index, but still underperformed its benchmark.

• Two-thirds of CFOs have sustainability role – survey

  19 September 2012

  Two-thirds of chief financial officers (CFOs) say they are involved with their organisation's sustainability strategies, as the financial implications of sustainability become clearer, according to a survey.

• Vestas shares up on Japan's nuclear phase-out

  19 September 2012

  Shares in Danish wind turbine maker Vestas have been boosted this week on Japan's announcement of a nuclear phase-out, as investors bet that it increases its appeal to potential acquirer Mitsubishi.

• US private equity firm raising $300m green-tech fund

  19 September 2012

  Private equity firm NewWorld Capital plans to raise $300 million to invest in environmentally friendly technologies across five different sectors.

• House votes to limit renewables loan guarantees

  18 September 2012

  The US House of Representatives approved a bill Friday to limit future loan guarantees, following the controversial bankruptcy of solar panel manufacturer Solyndra.

• Nigeria mandates wide-ranging sustainable banking principles

  18 September 2012

  The Nigerian central bank has published a set of sustainable banking principles – under development since late last year – and has ruled that adherence will be mandatory, in a first-of-its kind move for a banking system in either emerging or developed economies.