Blue & Green Daily: Thursday 15 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.

One size doesn’t fit all: democracy is not always the best form of government

Climate change a ‘catalyst for conflict’

Third sector urged to assess ethical investment policy

BoE: more needs to be done to end ‘too big to fail’ banks

Petition calling for fair banana price collects 70,000 signatures

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15 May headlines

Fracking could cost thousands of votes, warns Lord Howell

Trying to “bribe and cajole” countryside communities into accepting fracking will lose votes on a major scale, a senior Tory peer has warned. Lord Howell, who caused a furore last year when he suggested fracking go ahead in the “desolate” North East, said starting shale exploration in southern England would cause long delays, more hostility and higher costs. Guardian.

Tropical storms migrate toward poles

Tropical storms have been migrating northwards and southwards towards the poles for the past 30 years, a paper in Nature says. People are becoming less likely to face the worst hurricane or typhoon if hey live close to the Equator, and more likely if they live on the edge of the tropics. The researchers believe humans are influencing the changes – with climate change, ozone depletion and aerosols playing a part. BBC.

MoD loses battle to block radioactive waste contamination report

The Ministry of Defence has been forced to abandon attempts to block a report by government advisers warning that radioactive contamination of military sites across the UK could pose a risk to public health. The report reveals concerns about radium contamination at Dalgety Bay, Fife, and at least 25 other sites across the UK. Guardian.

Banks say bonus clawback rules may be unenforceable

Britain’s banking lobby has warned that proposals to clawback bonuses up to 11 years after they have been awarded would be unfair and potentially unenforceable. The British Bankers’ Association (BBA) said some of the suggestions violated “fundamental and long-standing” tenets of British law, and were “going beyond what could be considered as fair and reasonable”. Telegraph.

‘Optimistic’ Pfizer chief won’t rule out Astra break-up

Pfizer chief executive Ian Read is “optimistic” about gaining control of Astra Zeneca, but won’t rule out breaking up the British drug maker if his bid is successful. He said the firm was currently talking to shareholders and it was important that they win over politician and the public. Pfizer is expected to pitch another other direct to the British firm’s investors. Independent.

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Interesting picks

Investors start to take climate change and other issues personally – Think Advisor

Acting on climate change does not equal reduced prosperity – Washington Post

IPCC reports ‘diluted’ under ‘political pressure’ to protect fossil fuel interests – Guardian

Are we killing investment banking? And if we are, should we care? – The Spectator

Photo: Sanja gjenero via Freeimages