News

• Unsustainable use of raw materials must end – MEPs

  15 September 2011

  Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) have voted in favour of a more efficient raw materials strategy for Europe, claiming current practices are unsustainable if the bloc is to fight climate change and rebuild its economy.

• Virtual currency, part backed by carbon, poised for take off

  15 September 2011

  The virtual currency Ven, traded among a closed online community of individuals and businesses, hopes to have 80 million in circulation by this time next year, up from about 8 million today. It is backed by a basket of commodities, currencies – and carbon futures.

• CDP sees correlation between carbon disclosure, performance and share prices

  14 September 2011

  Companies which have scored highly in the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) global ranking have financially outperformed their peers, the investor-backed initiative said today, as its latest results show a ratcheting up of the demands it places on participating companies.

• Clean-tech firms still struggling with funding gap

  13 September 2011

  Clean-tech and low-carbon firms are still struggling with a funding gap, the Creating Climate Wealth summit of industry and finance specialists heard today.

• Forum for the Future sketches out 'sustainable economy of 2040'

  13 September 2011

  Forum for the Future has published what it calls a "roadmap for the capital markets" towards a "resilient, stable and sustainable economy" by 2040.

• Headwinds in store for renewables sector – reports

  13 September 2011

  The renewable energy sector faces growing challenges from global economic instability and expiring or diminished government support in the US and Europe, although the nuclear accident in Japan is a positive development for the industry, according to two new reports.

• FTSE4Good index ejects Pfizer over baby milk marketing

  13 September 2011

  The semi-annual review of companies in the FTSE4Good responsible investment index has added 22 firms and deleted four.

• EU carbon price 'should be €40-60t'

  13 September 2011

  Carbon allowances should cost at least €40 ($54.57) each, according to the long-term fundamentals of the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS), says analysis firm Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF).

• Economic 'permafrost' to hit climate economy – HSBC

  12 September 2011

  Emerging markets will increasingly take the lead in the climate economy, as the global economy enters an era of "economic permafrost", according to HSBC.

• Revamp reporting to avoid next crisis – King

  12 September 2011

  Better reporting by companies will help avert systemic risks such as climate change and the banking crisis, according to Mervyn King.