A report from the UK National Audit Office acknowledges the benefits of taxation on organisations but questions what specific effects they achieve. Andrew Warren, chairman of the British Energy Efficiency Federation, discusses the issues in an article in the April 2021 issue of Energy in Buildings & Industry. Environmental taxes work – but we’re … Continue reading Impact of environmental taxes in the UK
Category: financial instruments
In its first economy-wide climate stress test, the European Central Bank assessed the impact of climate change on four million companies and 2,000 banks in the bloc
Gurpreet Narwan writes on The Times website about the first economy-wide climate stress test by the ECB on companies and banks in the European Union. European Central Bank environment stress test shows polluters at risk Climate change poses “a major source of systemic risk” to the economy, the European Central Bank has warned after … Continue reading In its first economy-wide climate stress test, the European Central Bank assessed the impact of climate change on four million companies and 2,000 banks in the bloc
Paying for a service to accelerate deployment of energy-efficient technologies
Although energy-efficient technologies are available and their economic benefits are clear, there are several barriers that prevent these from being deployed, including high up-front costs, perception of greater performance risk, and other investment priorities. Dimitris Karamitsos writes on the weforum website about a way to overcome those barriers through servitisation. What is servitisation, and … Continue reading Paying for a service to accelerate deployment of energy-efficient technologies
EU green finance getting more serious
Kate Abnett and Simon Jessop write on the Reuter’s website that new taxonomy rules will be tighter for buildings but much less so for the shipping industry. No doubt you will be reading more about latest developments in taxonomy. On November 20th, the Commission launched a stakeholder feedback period on the draft Commission Delegated Regulation supplementing … Continue reading EU green finance getting more serious
Investors are pushing major European companies to make sure the “missing” costs of climate change are properly reflected in their financial statements
European and U.S. investors, who manage $9 trillion in assets, have sent 36 carbon-heavy companies a document setting out how they should account for the likely impact of the 2015 Paris climate accord on their future profits. Matthew Green and Simon Jessop explain latest developments in an article on the Reuters website. Investors tell … Continue reading Investors are pushing major European companies to make sure the “missing” costs of climate change are properly reflected in their financial statements
World’s publicly financed development banks pledge to use their financial muscle to rescue the global economy from the Covid-19 crisis and the climate emergency
The goal must be to build economies that are sustainable, resilient and inclusive says one head of a development bank. Encouragingly, we are seeing development banks take a more co-ordinated, integrated approach to address recovery plans and the need to ensure the Paris climate objectives are met. Fiona Harvey explains in an article on The … Continue reading World’s publicly financed development banks pledge to use their financial muscle to rescue the global economy from the Covid-19 crisis and the climate emergency
World’s largest investment banks provided financing linked to destruction of ecosystems
Phoebe Weston writes on The Guardian website about the world’s largest investment banks provided more than $2.6tn (£1.9tn) of financing linked to the destruction of ecosystems and wildlife last year, according to a new report. Banks lent $2.6tn linked to ecosystem and wildlife destruction in 2019 – report The world’s largest investment banks provided … Continue reading World’s largest investment banks provided financing linked to destruction of ecosystems
Some of the challenges for a carbon-neutral energy transition
International trade agreements are important. However, investor-state dispute-settlement provisions are blamed for impeding government action and that can have a negative impact on environmental policies. An article in The Economist gives a good account of many of the issues at stake. How some international treaties threaten the environment In use for over six decades, … Continue reading Some of the challenges for a carbon-neutral energy transition
Strong argument that an energy savings grant scheme in UK should also support lighting
We can now take advantage of the Green Homes Grant in the UK. But there is one glaring omission in the technologies available to UK’s homeowners, according to Andrew Warren, chairman of the British Energy Efficiency Federation in the September issue of Energy in Buildings & Industry. Why has lighting been left in the … Continue reading Strong argument that an energy savings grant scheme in UK should also support lighting
Decarbonising our entire economy by 2050 will require massive investments and investor patience to allow investments to pay off
The scale of the climate crisis and its potential impacts mean we need a scientific and investment revolution to tackle it. There are opportunities for patient investors in areas such as energy storage and electrification. It's time to tap into the power of science and innovation. Nicole Systrom, Founder of the Sutro Energy Group explains … Continue reading Decarbonising our entire economy by 2050 will require massive investments and investor patience to allow investments to pay off
