Amount saved in ISA accounts sees largest fall in 15 years
The amount of money held in cash ISAs fell in April at the fastest monthly rate since the accounts were introduced in 1999, according to figures from the Bank of England. Low interest rates and incoming reforms are thought to be responsible. ISAs, or individual savings accounts, allow individuals...
Christiana Figueres’s nine essential climate actions for individuals
At a recent event at St Paul’s Cathedral in London, UN climate chief Christiana Figueres invited individuals not to simply leave the grand building with inspiring words, but to instead take concrete action to help fight climate change. “Because we cannot ask others to do what we have not...
Responsible tourism means helping communities to thrive
In July, I wrote about the importance of spending your holiday and travel money locally. It’s a principle I always hold to, and other than in times of desperation (and they come) means that I avoid the logos and brands I am so easily dazzled by in London. But...
‘We need a radical shake-up of the banking system’
What is next for the banking sector? How can we spell an end to the irresponsible and unsustainable activity that goes on? One man charged with formulating a business response to these questions and more is Lawrence Tomlinson, entrepreneur-in-residence at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS). A...
China’s mega ‘solar cities’ are great, but sustainability is about scaling stuff down
I recently spent a day in Dezhou, one of China’s famed ‘solar cities’. As a bright and cheery advertisement explained, “Just like the Silicon Valley, this is the Solar Valley.” The ad was remarkable for several reasons. First, China’s economic development plan of copying hallmark western institutions was essentially...
BBC urged to promote flourishing social business sector in The Apprentice
A high-profile group of social entrepreneurs and business leaders have written to the BBC, urging it to widen the reach of The Apprentice so that it focuses more on social business. The campaign, co-ordinated by the national body Social Enterprise UK, describes the hit reality show as “out of...
Aggressive tax avoidance keeps on hitting the headlines
First it was big brands such as Starbucks, Amazon and Google squirming in parliament. Then it was the big four accountancy firms (KPMG, PwC, Ernst & Young and Deloitte) sharing their ‘impartial’ insight with parliament while operating as well-paid advisers to government on tax policy and profiting from rules...
Sir Richard Branson signs renewables letter to PM
A high-profile coalition of renewable energy campaigners has written a letter to David Cameron, asking for clarity over the Government’s stance on land-based clean power. The alliance, which includes Sir Richard Branson, Juliet Davenport and Ben Goldsmith, along with a plethora of prominent investors,...
Schwarzenegger heads Sustainia project to ‘inspire change’
If his mildly successful eight year stint as Californian Governor wasn’t surprising enough, actor-turned-politician Arnold Schwarzenegger is now fronting a movement called Sustainia – in which a sustainable future is visualised online. Schwarzenegger, who is perhaps most famous for starring as robotic assassin, The Terminator, is creating the initiative with...
Behind The Story of Stuff – Part II
Blue & Green Tomorrow is passionate about reducing the impact that we consumers have on our finite blue and green planet. We are, therefore, delighted to share the second part of an interview with Annie Leonard on her motivations and the future of The Story of Stuff Project.
Behind The Story of Stuff
Blue & Green Tomorrow is passionate about reducing the impact that we consumers have on our finite blue and green planet. We are, therefore, delighted to share a two part interview with Annie Leonard on her motivations, and the origins and future of The Story of Stuff Project.
Sir Paul Nurse on climate change and the economy
“The New Enlightenment” saw leading geneticist and Nobel Prize winner Sir Paul Nurse cover food security, climate change, global health and creating a sustainable economy. Last night, The 2012 Richard Dimbleby Lecture began somewhat timidly, but Sir Paul Nurse quickly entered into a crescendo that covered much ground in current...
Anti-Wind Watch: new complaints to rebuff
Wind turbines have been on the receiving end of more criticism this week, most of which revolves around the effect on the rural landscape. Considering the alternatives, though, turbines should be praised for their aesthetic appeal. The most recent opponents of wind farms come in the form of Lincolnshire MP,...
Investing ethically to ‘effect change’
Hugh Cuthbert, co-fund manager of the SVM All Europe SRI Fund, spoke with Alex Blackburne to explain how, by investing wisely in willingly-improving companies, his fund is designed to effect change within the global economy. Each ethical investment fund, whilst possessing similar underlying qualities, is different in its approach to...
Green energy start-up Tamar secures high-profile backers
The Prince of Wales, investment banker Jacob Rothschild and supermarket Sainsbury’s are just three of the big names to have invested in Tamar Energy, a company that is raising £65m to produce energy from organic waste. Tamar is in the process of developing a £65m network of anaerobic digestion (AD)...
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