Recycled 18-foot bee sculpture to stand among festivalgoers at Glastonbury
As well as playing host to the Arctic Monkeys, the Rolling Stones and countless other internationally-renowned performers, Glastonbury 2013 will include a recycled sculpture of a giant bee, designed to spread the environmental message at this year’s festival. Eco-cleaning products firm Ecover, which featured in Blue & Green Tomorrow’s...
Arctic ice melt forces Russian scientists to abandon research station
Rapid ice melt in the Arctic has forced a Russian crew to evacuate their research station, according to the country’s natural resources and environment ministry. North Pole 40 is what’s called a drifting station, in that it floats naturally on top of the ice floe. But its 16 staff...
EU ban on bee-harmful pesticides to begin in December
The European commission has confirmed that an EU-wide ban on three neonicotinoid pesticides, that research shows are harmful to bees, will come into place on December 1. Fifteen of the 27 member states voted to impose the ban in April, but eight – including the UK – were against...
HSBC could be prosecuted after judge threatens to scrap money laundering deal
A judge is considering rejecting a deal that would open HSBC up to criminal prosecution in court, prison for executives, massive fines and no freedom to operate in the US. The bank was fined £1.2 billion in December over claims that it was laundering money for terrorists and drug...
Investing in energy efficiency delivers a ‘potent one-two punch’
Improved policies are essential in unlocking multi-billion dollar investment opportunities in the US energy efficiency sector, according to a new report by Ceres and the Investor Network on Climate Risk (INCR). The study, entitled, Power Factor: Institutional Investors’ Policy Priorities Can Bring Energy Efficiency to Scale, says improving utility...
UK pension funds to look at social impact investment
Five local government pension funds are considering investments that can provide both financial returns and positive impacts for society and the environment. Those that have pledged to take part in the initiative are the Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire, West Midlands, South Yorkshire and Merseyside pension funds. The group of...
Business rife with short-termism; just 7% feel pressure to deliver long-term returns
The majority of businesses around the globe are inherently focused on short-term profit, with 79% of senior executives saying they felt big pressure to deliver strong financial performance over a two-year period, according to a survey. Conducted by McKinsey & Co and CCP Investment Board (CCPIB), the survey forms...
Impersonal experiences make financial service customers dissatisfied
People expect financial services firms to remember key details about them, with a number considering switching to other providers because of impersonal customer service, new research has shown. A survey by customer experience company 7 found that more than a quarter (26%) of UK customers have thought about changing...
Entrepreneurs selected for social investment project
A group of 30 social entrepreneurs have been selected to take part in Big Venture Challenge – an “investment accelerator” that looks to improve the way investors put their money into organisations that focus on delivering social benefits. Social enterprise foundation UnLtd selected the final 30 from 140 applicants....
Pension fund trade body launches responsible investment guide
The National Association of Pension Funds (NAPF) has launched a guide to responsible investment, which encourage its members to take factors other than financial returns into account when investing. NAPF members, who collectively manage £900 billion worth of assets, are invited in the guide to integrate environmental, social and...
Oklahoma residents face inadequate compensation after tornado
Residents affected by the Oklahoma tornado in the US might not have sufficient insurance cover to restore their properties, with the insurance industry already struggling because of the frequency of natural disasters. According to the Huffington Post, some homeowners and businesses decided to buy less insurance to save money...
Clean energy can save UK £45bn and slash emissions, says climate watchdog
Investing in clean energy will bring about significant financial benefits, to the tune of around £1,600 per UK household, while also helping slash greenhouse gas emissions, according to the government’s official climate change advisers. The Committee on Climate Change’s latest report, Next steps on Electricity Market Reform – securing...
‘The crux of sharia banking is ethical banking’
The principles of Islamic finance are entirely based around ethics, and this makes it suitable for everyone; not just for Muslims, according to Nasir Awan, CEO of Awan Marketing International. The Islamic investment industry is expected to grow consistently over the next few years and because of the sharia...
Revised sustainability framework looks to cut out ‘tick box reporting’
The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) has released G4, an updated edition of the most widely used sustainability reporting framework in the world. G4, which was unveiled to an audience of 1,600 at its 2013 Global Conference at the Amsterdam Stock Exchange on Wednesday, aims to encourage sustainable business while...
Oil companies are putting investors’ money at risk
Oil giants including BP and Exxon Mobil have been accused of playing ‘Russian roulette’ with investors’ money because of their links with poor performing Russian energy firms that are drilling in the Arctic. Three campaign groups – Greenpeace, Platform, and ShareAction – have said that a number of major...
Register with Blue & Green Tomorrow
Fill in your details below to register and comment with us. You will also receive our fortnightly e-newsletter, special reports and bulletins.
Popular Articles
- Met Office scientists to examine cause of UK extreme weather
- 90% of investors say CSR and sustainability reports are ‘essential’
- David Cameron’s social impact investment speech: full text
- RWE Npower director Nina Skorupska to lead renewables trade body
- Seven UK firms make it onto World’s Most Ethical Companies list
- Most transparent pension funds honoured at responsible investment event
- Government lauds UK impact investment as part of solution to African hunger
- Customers urged to ditch Lloyds after bank admits ‘issues’ with PPI claims
- Big five’s banking monopoly at risk, with 2.4m closing accounts in 2012
- BT unveils new initiative to help reduce carbon footprint
Micro-Blog
- Alex Blackburne says
Following the lead of The Independent (twice), The Week and The Sun, the Wall Street Journal has gi... - Alex Blackburne says
The nice folks at Skeptical Science have written a handy article, accompanied by an equally handy vi... - Alex Blackburne says
In a story that seems too ridiculous to be true, a senior BP executive is alleged to have looked up ... - Alex Blackburne says
A good question, and one that seems particularly apt on the eve of the presidential election. Mar... - Alex Blackburne says
It may seem like an obvious set of rules, but after uncovering some of the unusual things found in s...
Poll
Loading ...
