Martin Baxter, Executive Director for policy at the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment wrote this blog for Sustainable Business in the Guardian. While it is about issues in Britain, it has relevance to all countries. Environmental taxes need review to stay relevant When environmental taxes change business behaviour, revenues will fall – something the … Continue reading Reviewing environmental taxes
Tag: financing
Now the insurance industry is starting to take climate change seriously
Kenneth Weiss of the Los Angeles Times writes about a new study undertaken by Evan Mills of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Evan has just written a column on the subject for eceee and this article complements that column well. Climate change taken seriously by insurance industry, study says Paying out billions of dollars here and … Continue reading Now the insurance industry is starting to take climate change seriously
New energy efficiency fund targeting business
James Murray for BusinessGreen describes a new corporate energy efficiency fund in the UK. The bank is drawing on government’s Funding for Lending scheme to offer competitive loans to help businesses deliver energy efficiency improvements. RBS launches £200m corporate energy efficiency fund Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) will today launch a £200m (€246m) Carbon Reduction … Continue reading New energy efficiency fund targeting business
Turkish banks recognised for financing industrial energy efficiency and renewable energy projects
Finchannel.com from Tblisi, Georgia describes the recognition that Turkish banks have received from the EBRD for promoting energy efficiency. The EBRD has been active in getting its member countries to take an active role in energy efficiency and it appears to be paying off. EBRD celebrates excellence in financing energy efficiency in Turkey The European … Continue reading Turkish banks recognised for financing industrial energy efficiency and renewable energy projects
Municipality uses energy services company
The Republican-American newspaper in Connecticut in the United States gives us an important example of how using performance contracting has become a winning proposition. The article discusses many of the issues related to using such financing mechanisms. Improvements without bonds – Energy savings committed to pay for projects Cheshire Town leaders believe they have found … Continue reading Municipality uses energy services company
The launch of the Green Investment Bank in the UK
The UK has set up the world’s first investment bank solely dedicated to greening the economy. The initiative is part of the Government’s commitment to setting the UK firmly on course towards a green and growing economy, while also delivering long-term sustainable growth. The Green Investment Bank (GIB) will be a key component of the progression … Continue reading The launch of the Green Investment Bank in the UK
The on-going controversy over lower VAT rates in the UK to promote energy efficiency
Will Nichols of BusinessGreen writes about the problems the UK has been having to convince the European Commission of the importance of a lower VAT rate to improve energy efficiency in buildings. It becomes all the more important as the UK rolls out the Green Deal. One would think the Commission would be encouraging this … Continue reading The on-going controversy over lower VAT rates in the UK to promote energy efficiency
New research on the clean development mechanism
The secretariat of the United Nation’s Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) recently published research showing that the Kyoto Protocol’s clean development mechanism (CDM) has spurred billions of dollars of investment in projects that curb greenhouse gases and contribute to sustainable development. The report, titled Benefits of the Clean Development Mechanism 2012, answers in the … Continue reading New research on the clean development mechanism
EBRD funding for energy efficiency and renewables
Last week, EiD published a post on a loan from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) to Russia to promote energy efficiency. It is useful to look at the extent of the EBRD’s activity in this area in recent years. Recently the EBRD announced that since 2006 they have invested €10 billion (over … Continue reading EBRD funding for energy efficiency and renewables
A very targeted financial instrument – for one weekend a year
The fayobserver.com in Fayetteville, North Carolina in the United States reports that North Carolina holds a sales tax holiday on the purchases of certain energy-efficient appliances on the first full weekend of November every year. If the appliances were Energy Star-qualified, met energy-efficiency guidelines established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and were purchased during … Continue reading A very targeted financial instrument – for one weekend a year
