Blue & Green Daily: Thursday 1 May headlines

Blue & Green Daily finds and summarises the top sustainability stories around the web every morning. We start with our own picks from Blue & Green Tomorrow.

Could solar energy significantly reduce your business’s energy bill?

UK’s legal challenge to EU financial transaction tax rejected

JPMorgan Chase launches conservation impact investment initiative

MPs criticise government’s short-termist national energy security plan

Renewable energy sector set for £64bn investment by 2020

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1 May headlines

Warming boosts UK flooding risk

A citizen science project suggests climate change really has increased the risk of flooding in the UK. The issue has been highlighted by recent floods, amid a January that saw double the normal monthly rainfall in parts of England. Professor Myles Allen presented evidence of a link between floods and climate change at the European Geosciences Union meeting in Vienna. BBC.

Shell puts new Russian projects on hold after seizure of Crimea

Royal Dutch Shell has ruled out starting any new projects in Russia over the short-term following Vladimir Putin’s seizure of Crimea. Simon Henry, chief executive of the oil giant, said, “I don’t think we will be jumping into new investment in the short-term.” The company is a partner of state-backed Gazprom for the Sakhalin 2 liquefied natural gas operation. Telegraph.

Human litter found in Europe’s deepest ocean depths

Bottles, plastic bags, fishing nets and other human litter have been found in Europe’s deepest ocean depths, according to one of the largest scientific surveys of the seafloor to date. Plastic was the most common type of litter found on the seafloor, accounting for 41%, whilst rubbish associated with fishing activities made up 34%. Guardian.

Madrid’s smart parking meters to charge more for most polluting cars

The city of Madrid is introducing smart parking meters that will slap a surcharge on cars that pollute more and reduce parking charges for efficient vehicles, a system that city officials are touting as the first of its kind in the world. It is hoped the new system will help ease pollution levels, which consistently rank above the EU average. Guardian.

Boris warns City under threat after European Court dismisses UK ‘Tobin tax’ challenge

The future of the City of London is under threat after the European Union’s highest court threw out a British legal challenge against plans for a financial transaction tax, Boris Johnson haw warned. The Mayor of London described the rejections as “barmy” adding that it could damage the City’s financial sector. Telegraph.

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Interesting picks

Scotland’s referendum: What are the issues around energy? – BBC

Economic is clear on the need for climate action, now it’s time to act – Guardian

Investing in nature: new sources of capital – Huffington Post

Photo: Sanja gjenero via Freeimages