News

• Acciona sells $300m of Mexican windfarm bonds

  24 August 2012

  Energy and infrastructure developer Acciona has raised almost $300 million from bond investors to refinance two Mexican wind farms, in what bankers say is the first financing of non-US renewable energy projects in the US capital markets.

• Environmental protection shares jump on China's investment target

  23 August 2012

  China has said it will invest ¥2.37 trillion ($373 billion) in energy-saving projects and pollution control by the end of 2015, boosting share prices of environmental technology companies in the country.

• Repeat of Hurricane Andrew would cost $50-57bn

  23 August 2012

  If Hurricane Andrew were to happen today, it would cost the insurance industry around $57 billion, according to AIR Worldwide.

• Asria head steps down

  23 August 2012

  The general manager of the Association for Sustainable & Responsible Investment in Asia (Asria), Rebecca Mikula Wright, is stepping down.

• Vestas earnings down, shipment forecast cut

  22 August 2012

  Wind turbine maker Vestas has posted an almost 50% year-on-year drop in earnings and cut its shipment projections for the end of the year by about 700MW, adding to fears about the company's growth prospects.

• IFC to work with Vietnam central bank on environmental standards

  22 August 2012

  The International Finance Corporation (IFC) will help Vietnam's central bank strengthen environmental and social loan standards in the country's banking system, it announced this week.

• Typhoon Haiku causes $230m insured losses

  22 August 2012

  Typhoon Haiku, which hit China's Zhejiang province in July, is estimated to have caused ¥1.46 billion ($230 million) in insured losses as of mid-August, according to China Insurance Regulatory Commission.

• US court surprises with EPA pollution rule decision

  21 August 2012

  A federal court has struck down the US Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Cross-State Air Pollution Rule (CSAPR), leaving the Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR) markets in place by default.

• OMV, Total, Hess top oil and gas sustainability ranking

  21 August 2012

  OMV, Total and Hess have been named the best performing oil and gas companies in terms of sustainability by Oekom Research – but it warned that the sector is lagging on climate protection and emissions targets.

• Insurance threat to renewables transmission investment

  21 August 2012

  Insurance providers need to rethink their reluctance to insure transmission lines, or risk throttling renewable energy development, according to broker Willis.