Features
Blue & Green Daily: Monday 14 July 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.
Scientists call for action on plastics being dumped in marine environment
Electric vehicles in UK could reach 5 million with right policies, says National Grid
Richard Branson says goodbye to environmentally-intensive beef
YouTube blocks Greenpeace’s video targeting Lego link with Shell
Animal experiments in the UK rise, despite promises of reduction
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14 July
Zurich plans to invest $2bn in green bonds as sector grows
Zurich Insurance has doubled the amount it plans to invest in green bonds to $2 billion, in the latest sign the fledgling market is gathering momentum. The Swiss insurer, which has an investment portfolio of $214 billion, said the investment would be denominated in euros, pounds and Swiss francs, and allocated to the balance sheets of its European companies. Financial Times.
Energy complaints soar, Energy Ombudsman says
Complaints about energy companies have risen to their highest level, according to data from the Energy Ombudsman. In the first six months of the year complaints almost doubled, with 84% related to billing. The government said it was unacceptable that so many people were unhappy. Energy UK, the industry lobby group, said the sector “works hard” and is investing in “resources and new systems” to resolve customers’ issues. BBC.
Clear difference between organic and non-organic food, study finds
Organic food has more of the antioxidant compounds linked to better health than regular food, and lower levels of toxic metal and pesticides, according to the most comprehensive scientific analysis to date. The research times concludes that there are “statistically significant, meaningful” differences with range of antioxidants being “substantially higher” – between 19% and 69% – in organic food. Guardian.
Seafood guide says five of top 11 species ‘unsustainably managed’
Five of the 11 most commonly eaten species of fish in Australia, including shark and snapper, are unsustainably managed and should be avoided by consumers, a new analysis found. The guide, which rates fish by a number of criteria, including how abundant they are, the impact of fishing equipment and whether catching the species involves the inadvertent death of other creatures, highlights the need food more sustainable fishing practices worldwide. Guardian.
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Interesting picks
Boris Johnson’s indifference to pollution is killing us – Guardian
We must consider any solution to climate change – Financial Times
The battle for sustainable investing – Financial News
Will eating organic food make you healthier? – Guardian
Photo: Sanja gjenero via Freeimages