Climate finance
World’s 50 largest emitters ignoring climate risks – report
Research from CDP and PwC reveals 50 companies are responsible for 73% of greenhouse gas emissions from world’s top 500 firms
Clean energy financing broke US$100 billion barrier in 2012
Development bank funding for low carbon projects broke landmark barrier last year according to Bloomberg New Energy Finance
UK clean energy investors face ‘valley of death’ warns fund manager
Adam Workman from 350 Investment Partners says positive outlook of low carbon business belies a challenging sector
Pressure mounts on EU development bank to kill coal funding
Currently half of the EBRD’s US$8.9 billion energy portfolio supports fossil fuels, which includes US$1 billion in past financing for coal
World’s top banks to penalise businesses that damage nature
43 leading financial institutions including World Bank plan to cut credit for companies which rely on them but fail to value them
RBS’ carbon footprint dwarfs emissions of entire UK
The state-owned bank’s true carbon emissions have been revealed to be 18 times the total emissions of Scotland
UK solar market hits 1 gigawatt for the first time
The largest PV installation to date was completed during the first half of this year, helping to boost figures
Landmark solar project begins construction in Leeward Islands
Experts have forecast the Caribbean to have installed 500MW of PV by 2016, powering 400,000 homes
How scientists at NOAA are mapping New York’s watery future
When Hurricane Sandy hit, New York’s flooding maps were 30 years out of date. NOAA scientists are making sure this never happens again
Adapting to climate change brings stability to war torn countries
Building resiliency to climate change in Central African Republic establishes infrastructure that helps bring peace after civil disruption
UN opens carbon trading office in Bogota
UNFCCC chief Christiana Figures hopes centre can ‘tap potential’ for Clean Development Projects in Latin America
UN climate finance talks deliver options – but no new money
Analysts believe agreement on funding for mitigation and adaptation in developing countries now unlikely at COP19 UN talks in Warsaw
Ben Goldsmith: it’s possible to be green and conservative
Co-founder of sustainable investors WHEB says business is leading a green revolution in the UK
Google user’s carbon footprint equal to ‘one mile drive in car’
Users account for the vast majority of its CO2 footprint, but R&D efforts for self-driving cars are also taking their toll.
UK farmers report increase in extreme weather events
Erratic weather conditions and heavy rains are devastating harvests and making the UK more reliant on imports
China to ‘urgently’ invest in green technologies
Recent trade cases have increased the government’s determination to play a significant role to expand domestic green industries
IKEA purchases first wind farm in Ireland
The wind farm, expected to generate enough energy for 5,500 houses a year, is part of IKEA’s pledge of €1.5 billion to renewable energy up to 2015
UK crowdfunding raises £3m for clean energy projects
£3m raised through crowdfunding alone has paid for solar panels on schools and houses, with more projects planned throughout 2013
Interpol warns of criminal focus on $176 billion carbon market
Crime agency says lack of oversight and transparency threaten the environmental integrity of the world’s carbon markets
Fund managers worth $14tr say climate change influences investments
Investors are increasingly choosing where to invest based upon climate change considerations, a report by European Institutional Investors Group finds