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BRICS: $100bn sustainable development bank launched by world’s largest developing economies
Posted by Blue and Green: None Given on July 20th, 2014
Blue and Green: The BRICS group, made up of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, have established their own international bank, to promote sustainable investment and to act as an emergency reserve.
The bank will be based in Shanghai and its first president will be from India, the group announced. In a declaration, the nations said, “BRICS continue to face significant financing constraints to address infrastructure gaps and sustainable development needs.
“With this in mind, we are pleased to announce...
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A world without water: Financial Times counts the cost of water scarcity
Posted by Blue and Green: None Given on July 18th, 2014
Blue and Green: Since 2011, companies around the world have spent more than $84 billion (£49bn) to improve the way they conserve, manage or obtain water, according to a new investigation from the Financial Times.
In the first article of a new series on the global threat of water scarcity, FT environment correspondent Pilita Clark looks how the marginal cost of water – a resource previously taken for granted – is rising for companies of all sizes.
The report explains how a growing, aspirational global population...
Leaked emails show World Bank could ease loans at expense of environment
Posted by Blue and Green: None Given on July 7th, 2014
Blue and Green: Leaked emails by the World Bank, seen by the Observer, show how loans could become more readily available, potentially leading to lower environmental and social standards.
The emails show how regulations for loans could be relaxed with more than $50 billion (£29bn) available every year for power, mining, transport and farming projects.
The World Bank was established in 1944 and provides loans and grants to developing countries to help end extreme poverty and promote growth.
In 2012 the World...
One third of corn grown in water-stressed areas
Posted by Blue and Green: None Given on June 12th, 2014
Blue and Green: One third of the world’s corn is grown in highly water-stressed regions, raising questions over the sustainability of global food supply, experts have warned.
According to a statement released on Wednesday by the World Resources Institute, competition for water is tight in agricultural areas across each of the top six corn producing nations – the US, China, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina and India.
Corn is a vital crop. It is one of the world’s largest sources of food calories, and also feeds livestock....
UK Weather: spring set to be third hottest on record
Posted by Blue and Green: None Given on May 31st, 2014
Blue and Green: The Met Office has predicted that this year’s spring will be the third warmest on record in the UK. Scotland could also see its warmest spring since records began in 1910, with the UK experiencing six months of above average temperatures. The predictions are supported by an average March-May temperature which is third only to 2007 and 2011. Whilst England has seen the warmest average temperatures of 9.76C, Wales is not too far behind at 9.04C and Scotland at 7.63C. The UK overall has seen average...
Steep decline in British public’s fracking support, poll shows
Posted by Blue and Green: None Given on May 20th, 2014
Blue and Green: The percentage of Britons who support fracking for shale gas has sunk to below 50%, according to the latest YouGov poll conducted on behalf of Nottingham University.
Support for shale gas has not recovered since the 58% high it reached in July 2012. This had fallen to 54% by September last year and then 53.3% by January. The latest instalment of the poll saw support fall to 49.7%.
High profile protests at a Sussex test drilling site last summer, where Green party MP Caroline Lucas was arrested,...
Climate change threatens India tea production
Posted by Blue and Green: None Given on March 28th, 2014
Blue and Green: Tea producers in India, where one-third of the world`s tea is grown, are suffering because of changes in temperature and rainfall caused by climate change, experts and tea garden owners have said.
Though it makes the world`s most popular drink -- after water -- tea is a very delicate plant, vulnerable to changes in temperature and precipitation.
Such problems are piling expenses on producers, who say they can`t increase prices because of market competition.
Speaking to the BBC, producers...
United Kingdom: Poll: three-quarters voters want more environmental policies
Posted by Blue and Green: None Given on March 26th, 2014
Blue and Green: Almost three-quarters of UK voters feel that the major political parties need to focus more on the environment, renewable energy and efforts to cut carbon emissions, according to a new poll.
The survey, commissioned by WWF-UK, also found that 47% of voters are willing to switch their political allegiance based on which party was offering the best environmental policies.
Eighty-eight per cent of respondents said the government should be doing more to protect the UK against flooding and other...
UN: 13 of 14 warmest years on record in 21st century
Posted by Blue and Green: None Given on March 25th, 2014
Blue and Green: The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) has revealed that 2001-2010 was the warmest decade on record, while 13 of the 14 warmest years in recorded history have occurred in the 21st century.
The WMO previously said that 2013 had been the sixth warmest year on record and stressed the dramatic impact that floods and droughts have had around the world.
The UN agency made it clear in its latest annual climate statement that there was “no standstill in global warming” and that each of the last...
Sustainability rising up agenda for real estate investors
Posted by Blue and Green: None Given on March 20th, 2014
Blue and Green: European real estate investors are increasingly considering sustainability when developing or investing in new buildings, and also recognise the benefits of real estate with a green certification scheme. The findings, published in a report called Towards a Greener Future, come from a survey conducted by international law firm DLA Piper. Survey responses found that market demand from occupiers – rather than issues such as government legislation – was the driving force behind delivering sustainable...