Blue & Green Daily: Friday 18 April 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.

What leading investment houses say about sustainable investment

20 questions with… Mark Hoskin

Clean energy tech receives €2bn from European Investment Bank

Pope Francis urged to support fossil fuel divestment campaign

Green MP Caroline Lucas cleared of anti-fracking protest charges

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18 April headlines

EU green light for UK carbon capture and storage project

A UK project to capture CO2 and bury it under the North Sea looks set to receive a €300 million boost from the European Union. The European Commission has confirmed that the White Rose carbon storage (CCS) project is in line to win the cash. Climate scientists believe CCS has a key role to play in reducing future emissions. BBC.

Trial of GM plants to help fight heart disease given go-ahead

Scientists have been give permission to grow genetically modified plants that could help protest against heart disease. The government has given the go-ahead for a field trial of a crop of GM camelina plants, the seeds of which are modified to produce fish oils. The oils could provide feed for farmed fish, meaning fewer fish would need to be caught from the sea. Guardian.

Former BP official charged with insider trading

A former BP official who played a pivotal role in cleaning up the Gulf of Mexico oil spill has been charged with insider trading, after he sold off shares in the immediate aftermath of the 2010 disaster. Keith Seilhan sold his entire $1 million stake in the company after he found out the extent of the damage, but before the information was made public. Telegraph.

China admits widespread soil pollution in ‘state secret’ report

One-fifth of China’s agriculture land is polluted, particularly in the country’s southern rice baskets, according to a sobering government report previously classified as a ‘state secret’. Soil pollution, including hazardous levels of cadmium, nickel, arsenic, lead and mercury, is particularly pronounced in the Yangtze and Pearl River Deltas. Financial Times.

Scottish government announces £4m extra funding for green energy scheme

The Scottish government has announced £4 million of extra funding for a scheme, which helps Scottish households generate their own green energy. The Home Renewables Loan Scheme gives people access to interest free loans for a range of renewable technology. BBC.

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Interesting picks

Universities must end financial ties to climate denying fossil-fuel giants – now – Guardian

Invest in social work with older people – Local Government Chronicle

Has the west fallen prey to crony capitalism? – Telegraph

Illegal logging ‘plagues’ the Peruvian Amazon, says new research – Guardian

Photo: Sanja gjenero via Freeimages