Measure & Verify | ClimateBiz.com

Fiduciary Responsibility: Legal and Practical Aspects of Integrating ESG Issues into Institutional Investment

GreenBiz Staff — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 10:55:00 -0700

A powerful group of asset managers, representing around USD 2 trillion in assets under management, argues in this report that integrating environmental, social and governance (ESG) considerations into investment decisions is no longer just a luxury, but a legal responsibility.

Legally Binding Disclosure of Environmental Risks Moves Closer to Reality

GreenBiz Staff — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 10:00:00 -0700

A new United Nations report published this week suggests advisors to institutional investors may end up in court if they ignore environmental and social concerns. Meanwhile, the Securities and Exchange Commission may reportedly consider whether to force public companies to tell their investors about the financial and physical risks they face from climate change.

Carbonetworks Unveils New Tool to Help U.K. Businesses Count Carbon

ClimateBiz Staff — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 15:41:00 -0700

Canadian software company Carbonetworks launched new tools today aimed at helping United Kingdom (U.K.) businesses comply with the upcoming Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC).

How the U.S. is Forging a National Ecosystem Marketplace

Alice Kenny — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 13:00:00 -0700

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's new Office of Ecosystem Services and Markets (OESM) is just getting off the ground, but once under way it should lead to better coordination not only among agencies charged with regulating various ecosystem service markets, but also among markets for water, biodiversity and, of course, carbon.

Climate Corps: The Benefits of Monitoring Your Building’s Performance

Lindsay McCombs — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 11:34:00 -0700

With falling asset values and limited access to capital, many in the real estate industry are spending their time on the next best thing to doing deals: going green. Not only do energy and water efficient buildings have relatively low operating costs, asset managers report these buildings also have high occupancy rates, quick space absorption and proud tenants.

Climate Corps: A Little Information Goes a Long Way

Sarah Shapiro — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 07:01:00 -0700

It's well-known that information can make the difference in modifying behavior. Cisco is taking this concept to the operational level by installing Power Distribution Units on racks in data labs. PDUs don’t save energy themselves, but instead provide users with consumption and energy load information that can help users identify opportunities to improve efficiencies.

Carbon Trust to Begin Labeling Products Down Under

ClimateBiz Staff — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 13:17:00 -0700

Consumer products with labels displaying the amount of carbon dioxide emissions generated from production through disposal will hit store shelves in Australia next year thanks to a partnership between Australian environmental group Planet Ark and U.K.-based Carbon Trust, the organization that developed the international labeling standard.

Counting Carbon at Madison Square Garden

Tilde Herrera — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 10:18:00 -0700

Deutsche Bank and MIT unveiled the world's first scientifically valid, real-time display of greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere.

Planet Metrics Helps Method Clean Up Emissions

ClimateBiz Staff — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 12:26:00 -0700

Start-up Planet Metrics has released the beta version of its software that helps companies like Method identify the embedded energy and greenhouse gas emissions in products and supply chains.

Bayer Cuts Global Emissions 7 Percent in 2008

ClimateBiz Staff — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 11:28:00 -0700

The company expects to maintain 2020 emissions at 2007 levels, Bayer said in its latest sustainable development report.

World Postal Operators to Release Emissions Data

ClimateBiz Staff — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 09:59:00 -0700

The International Postal Corp., a trade group representing global postal operators, said last week it would publish a report in December detailing the sector's carbon proficiency, based on 2008 data from 21 participating postal operations.

Pharmaceuticals Outscore Other Sectors in New Climate Scorecard

ClimateBiz Staff — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 07:54:00 -0700

The pharmaceutical industry has emerged as a leader in measuring and reporting its carbon footprint compared to 13 other sectors, according to the latest Climate Counts Scorecard released today. AstraZeneca and J&J lead the pack, while Amgen and Wyeth are the sector's biggest laggards.

Hara Rolls Out Software to Measure and Manage Energy Efficiency, Carbon

GreenerBuildings Staff — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 03:42:00 -0700

Energy management startup Hara Software Inc. has entered the market with a software-as-a-service corporate application that enables organizations to track their use of resources, energy efficiency and emissions systemwide -- and take steps to reduce them.

Climate Risk Disclosure in SEC Filings

GreenBiz Staff — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 14:38:00 -0700

Ceres, the Environmental Defense Fund and the Center for Energy and Environmental Security analyze recent filings from the world's largest industries, finding that while the energy industries are disclosing climate change risks to a greater extent than other sectors, the detail and depth are far from sufficient to help investors make wise choices.

Shareholders Convince Chevron to Track Product Carbon Content

ClimateBiz Staff — Wed, 27 May 2009 10:09:00 -0700

A group of faith-based investors will back off a resolution it filed to get Chevron to track its products’ carbon contents after the oil company agreed to comply. The Sisters of St. Dominic said Chevron is the largest company to agree to track its products' carbon content, and pointed out another oil giant -- ExxonMobil -- is still resisting similar proposals.