Quote Bank: April 16-20

A good quote makes all the difference.

“Today, over a billion people are malnourished and another billion are overweight. The current agricultural system is failing two of every seven people on the planet. And the current trends—population growth, more people eating meat, and more crops being used for fuel—are only increasing stresses on the food system” – Paul West of the Global Landscapes Initiative at the University of Minnesota’s Institute on the Environment. Global food system crisis

“If you have to choose between two companies to invest in, and their profits are pretty much the same, why not look at the company that’s actually doing better for society and doing better for the environment?” – Bryn Jones, manager of the Rathbone Ethical Bond Fund. Broadening your horizon: investing in an ethical bond fund

“In order for activities in environmental protection and climate finance to be successful, close bilateral links between the national European promotional banks are indispensable” – Dr Ulrich Schröder, chief executive of KfW Bankengruppe. German bank KfW confirmed as Green Investment Bank advisor

“There is an expensive machine behind the Games that is funded by corporate sponsors. Sadly when these sponsors are selected, money talks much more loudly than values” – Meredith Alexander, chair of the Greenwash Gold campaign. “Greenwash Gold” rolled out for Olympic sponsors

“Fracking is very energy and water intensive, it involves large amounts of toxic chemicals and there is a significant risk of methane leakage from the bore, which can pollute groundwater sources or escape into the atmosphere as a potent greenhouse gas” – Hannah Kitchen, campaigner at Friends of the Earth Scotland. DECC report suggests continued but controlled fracking

“Wind energy is a recession-busting industry. It is countering the recession – providing increasing economic activity, more jobs and exports every year to an EU struggling with an economic crisis intensified by ever increasing amounts of fuel being imported at rising costs to European citizens” – Arthouros Zervos, president of the European Wind Energy Association. Economic importance of wind power highlighted

“Our planet, our home is being neglected. Climate change continues unabated. It seems there’s a new ecological disaster happening almost daily. This Earth Day it’s time to mobilize the planet from the ground up to send a message that the Earth won’t wait!” – Earth Day. Mobilising an entire planet for Earth Day 2012

“The EU ETS [Emissions Trading Scheme] was expected to support emission reductions by catalysing innovation and driving investment in low carbon solutions. This is not happening” – Stephanie Pfeifer, executive director of the Institutional Investors Group on Climate Change. Investors call for Emissions Trading Scheme fix

“In part, investment growth in the United Kingdom can be attributed to investors initiating new projects before policy incentives are curtailed. To maintain growth, the UK must provide consistent, long-term market signals that provide certainty to investors” – Phyllis Cuttino, director of The Pew Charitable Trust’s Clean Energy Program. UK renewable energy investment surged in 2011