News

• EU carbon price rockets 30% on set-aside vote

  20 December 2011

  The European Parliament's environment committee has voted to cut the supply of EU carbon allowances, causing the carbon price to climb as high as €9.75, a 32% increase on yesterday's close.

• EcoSecurities co-founder launches Brazilian environmental exchange

  20 December 2011

  Carbon markets pioneer Pedro Moura Costa is helping to set up a government-backed environmental exchange in Brazil to host markets in carbon, recycling, water quality and forestry credits.

• Near record-high catastrophe claims in 2011

  19 December 2011

  This year is set to see the second highest insured losses from natural and man-made catastrophes in history, at $108 billion, according to preliminary estimates by reinsurer Swiss Re.

• BlackRock clean energy fund eyes push into nat gas, after tough year

  16 December 2011

  The managers of BlackRock's New Energy Investment Trust are looking at diversifying into natural gas following a year when the fund's share price fell 26.7%, against a drop of 1.3% in its performance benchmark index.

• Energy companies push for higher carbon prices

  16 December 2011

  Some of Europe's biggest energy and manufacturing companies have called for a strengthening of the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS), in the wake of the release of the European Commission's energy roadmap and ahead of a key vote on the EU Energy Efficiency Directive (EED).

• Shareholders should beef-up tactics on engagement

  16 December 2011

  Environmental and social resolutions can be effective tools for driving change at corporations, but more aggressive strategies should be incorporated into the shareholder engagement movement, experts said.

• US lagging on ESG due to legal, fiduciary red herrings

  15 December 2011

  The US is falling behind other countries and regions in integrating environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors into mainstream investment decisions, largely due to perceived legal or fiduciary risks, experts said.

• EU needs 2030 greenhouse gas target – Oettinger

  15 December 2011

  A 'realistic' legally binding target to cut greenhouse gas emissions needs to be agreed for 2030 if the EU is to achieve its ambitious aim of zero emissions by 2050, the EU energy commissioner Günther Oettinger said today as he launched the European Commission's energy roadmap 2050.

• Bridges Ventures snags £72m for third fund

  15 December 2011

  Bridges Ventures has announced a first close of £72 million ($111 million) for its third "sustainable growth fund".

• Exchanges ill-equipped to drive climate change disclosure

  15 December 2011

  Stock exchanges "lack tools, resources and expertise" to encourage listed companies to disclose climate change information, according to a white paper by the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP).