News

• Record number of shareholder calls for US, Canadian energy firms to disclose environment risks

  21 February 2011

  Energy companies in the US and Canada are facing a burgeoning shareholder revolt over inadequate disclosure of environmental risks.

• Philips commits €2bn for green R&D

  18 February 2011

  Electricals giant Royal Philips Electronics says it will commit €2 billion ($2.7 billion) towards green R&D investment over the next five years, and is aiming for 'green products', such as low-energy electricals and PVC-free televisions, to account for half of its sales by 2015.

• Chevron investors shrug off $8.6bn pollution fine

  17 February 2011

  An Ecuadorian court has a slim chance of enforcing an $8.6 billion pollution fine against Chevron, according to one lawyer, and investors seem unconcerned with the development.

• Republicans to block Obama's green spending plan?

  17 February 2011

  Renewable energy and energy efficiency were major winners in President Barack Obama's proposed budget, but a fiscal battle with Congressional Republicans casts serious doubt on the likelihood of any funding increases.

• Figueres voices support for carbon tax

  17 February 2011

  Christiana Figueres, the shepherd of UN climate change talks, this week voiced support for a carbon tax to address global warming.

• Emerging market executives take lead on sustainability – survey

  17 February 2011

  'Sustainable' business practices are seen as more important in the developing world than in developed countries, according to a survey of executives – and the gap is set to widen.

• Leading investor plays down Climate Change Committee independence threat

  17 February 2011

  Environmental groups fear the independence of the UK's Climate Change Committee (CCC) could be threatened – or worse, the committee could be scrapped – under a public bodies bill which could shift control over the CCC's structure to government ministers. However, a leading carbon market commentator has downplayed the threat.

• Carbon Trust looks to private sector to plug funding gap

  17 February 2011

  UK climate advisory group The Carbon Trust anticipates a 40% cut in government funding next month, prompting the group to scale-back operations, axe jobs and intensify its push for private sector funding.

• Climate action delay could cost $8 trillion, warns Mercer

  17 February 2011

  The economic cost of carbon emissions over the next 20 years could amount to $8 trillion, according to a study by investment consultants Mercer.

• LED group targets $150m IPO

  17 February 2011

  Florida-based Lighting Science Group aims to raise $150 million in an initial public offering (IPO).