Economy
Top articles of the week: October 25
This week on Blue & Green Tomorrow, a major new divestment campaign was launched by the ethical banking reform group Move Your Money to coincide with Good Money Week.
We also reported on the predicted growth of the green bond market, which is expected to reach $100 billion (£62bn) next year. In other news, according to a new report by online positive investment marketplace Ethex the UK’s positive investment market has grown to £3.25 billion.
1. Wind energy could generate almost 20% of the world’s electricity by 2030 – report
Ilaria Bertini: Global wind power capacity could reach 2,000 gigawatts by 2030, significantly reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) by more than 3 billion tonnes a year, creating millions of jobs and supplying up to 19% of global electricity, according to a new report. Read more.
2. International tensions as talks to protect Antarctica begin
Ilaria Bertini: Twenty-five member nations of the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) are set to discuss the creation of two large marine protected areas to protect the Antarctic environment from fishing and other commercial activities, but the move is being opposed by Russia and China. Read more.
3. Positive investment market grows to £3.25 billion
Tom Revell: The UK’s positive investment market has grown to £3.25 billion, with 1.75 million investors and savers directly supporting businesses that create social and environmental impact, according to a new report. Read more.
4. Fossil fuel divestment campaign targets high street banks
Tom Revell: Customers of Britain’s biggest banks are to demand that high street institutions stop using their savings and investments to finance the fossil fuel industry, in a major new divestment campaign launched on Monday. Read more.
5. Scotland to charge 5p for single-use plastic bags
Ilaria Bertini: Scotland will from today require all retailers to charge customers a minimum of 5p for each new single-use carrier bag, in an effort to reduce plastic pollution and clean up streets. Read more.
6. Green bond market predicted to grow to $100bn in 2015
Charlotte Malone: The green bond market continued to see strong growth in the third quarter of 2014 and will reach $100 billion (£62bn) next year, according to the Climate Bonds Initiative. Read more.
7. UK and China to share expertise on sustainable cities
Charlotte Malone: UK experts are to travel to China and deliver workshops on sustainable cities and regeneration strategies, as the Asian country’s huge urban population is set to grow while its pollution crises worsens. Read more.
8. WWF: ‘warm homes, not warm words’ the key to tackling climate change
Tom Revell: The development of warm and affordable low-carbon homes must be a national priority if the UK is to curb its contribution to climate change, according to a new report from WWF. Read more.
9. Farming organisations claim pesticide ban threatens UK agriculture
Charlotte Malone: A new report commissioned by UK farming bodies has claimed that EU plans to ban pesticides could reduce crop yields, causing food prices to go up and threatening food security. Read more.
10. Salone del Gusto opens in Turin with focus on family farming and biodiversity
Ilaria Bertini: The 2014 edition of Salone del Gusto, a food and biodiversity event organised by the Slow Food movement, officially opened in Turin, Italy, on Thursday. Read more.
Photo: Sanja Gjenero via Free Images