Energy in Demand News, May 12, 2024

In the energy transition governments have been losing fuel duties in the shift away from combustion engines. The Financial Times (behind a paywall) writes that, globally, policymakers are imposing new taxes on electric vehicles because last year there was a drop in receipts of $10 billion. The net loss is projected to rise to $110 … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, May 12, 2024 →

For shipping to keep within its carbon budget, all available levers will need to be actioned at different points in time over the next three decades

Bureau Veritas (BV) has recently published a report outlining potential decarbonization trajectories for the maritime industry through five distinct scenarios. Paul Delouche, the Strategy, Acquisitions, and Advanced Services Director at Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore discusses the report in an article on the Maritime Executive website. For those not familiar with energy insetting, the concept … Continue reading For shipping to keep within its carbon budget, all available levers will need to be actioned at different points in time over the next three decades →

Energy in Demand News, April 28, 2024

Economic damage from natural catastrophes is raising concern that some areas could be rendered uninsurable, according to Petra Hielkema, head of the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority (Eiopa), quoted in the Financial Times (behind a paywall). “The EU suffered more than €50bn in economic losses from natural catastrophes in both 2021 and 2022, according … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, April 28, 2024 →

Banks made big climate promises but a new study doubts they work

Using European Central Bank lending data, researchers said there was not evidence that voluntary commitments were effective in reducing emissions. Hundreds of banks, insurers and asset managers vowed to plow $130 trillion in capital into reducing carbon emissions and financing the energy transition as they introduced the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero. But a … Continue reading Banks made big climate promises but a new study doubts they work →

UN’s new “loss and damage” fund off to slow start

Demand for finance to pay for the aftermath of climate impacts is rocketing – but progress on getting a new UN loss and damage fund up and running is slow. Laurie Goering discusses latest developments in an article on the Climate Change News website. Expectations mount as loss and damage fund staggers to its … Continue reading UN’s new “loss and damage” fund off to slow start →

“If we are to have any chance of reaching the Paris Agreement goals, we will have to reward those who play the game and penalize those who do not”

In an article on the Le Monde website, finance expert Laurent Babikian proposes rewarding companies who make efforts to decarbonise and penalizing those who don't. What are your views? Climate: 'The most effective way of reaching the Paris Agreement would be variable price business models' To achieve the Paris Agreement, greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) … Continue reading “If we are to have any chance of reaching the Paris Agreement goals, we will have to reward those who play the game and penalize those who do not” →

EU to probe subsidies to Chinese solar panel manufacturers that have distorted European market

Nikolaus J. Kurmayer writes on the Euractiv website about whether subsidies allowed Chinese firms to submit unfair bids for the construction of a Romanian solar panel park. The probe reflects a hardening stance in Europe towards cheap Chinese imports, which the EU’s solar industry has blamed for the heavy losses and plant closures of several … Continue reading EU to probe subsidies to Chinese solar panel manufacturers that have distorted European market →

New BPIE report calls on multilateral donors and policymakers to apply investment criteria for a sustainable reconstruction of Ukraine

This week the Buildings Performance Institute Europe presented six investment criteria to drive a sustainable reconstruction of Ukraine’s heavily damaged built environment. The report calls on multilateral donors and the Ukrainian government to allocate funding to projects that meet ambitious energy efficiency, renewable energy, climate adaptation, and circularity criteria. The criteria is aligned to scenarios … Continue reading New BPIE report calls on multilateral donors and policymakers to apply investment criteria for a sustainable reconstruction of Ukraine →

New rules will force U.S. firms to divulge role in warming the planet

US regulators approve significantly scaled back climate disclosure rule. In an article on The Conversation website Sehoon Kim, Assistant Professor of Finance, University of Florida, discusses why the requirements are weaker and what they mean for companies. For those of you wanting more, the Financial Times reports (behind a paywall) that ten US states petitioned … Continue reading New rules will force U.S. firms to divulge role in warming the planet →

There continues to be real opportunities for social impact investing (SII) directed to the Global South

Haider Alvi, Associate Professor of Innovation Finance, Faculty of Business, Athabasca University in Canada writes on The Conversation website about the issues related to social impact investing in the Global South. Responsible ESG investing in the Global South requires overcoming the Global North’s saviour complex ESG standards (Environment, Social and Governance) are metrics designed … Continue reading There continues to be real opportunities for social impact investing (SII) directed to the Global South →