Business Operations | Finance | GreenBiz.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.

CDP, Markit and NASDAQ to Offer New Green Investment Indices

GreenBiz Staff — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 13:37:00 -0700

Investors who want to put their money behind companies that manage environmental impacts responsibly received news of two new options this week. One from Carbon Disclosure Project and Markit tracks companies with robust carbon management strategies, while another from NASDAQ targets strong corporate sustainability reporters.

Companies Show Little Awareness of Climate Change Risks, Report Finds

GreenBiz Staff — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 14:54:00 -0700

More than two-thirds of S&P 500 companies fail to even mention risks presented by global warming in their annual reports, while just 5 percent lay out a strategy for mitigating those risks, according to a study by investor group Ceres, the Environmental Defense Fund and the Center for Energy and Environmental Security.

Sustainability Means Economy First, then Environment

Yossi Sheffi — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 11:38:00 -0700

The director of MIT's Engineering Systems Division and Center for Transportation and Logistics explores how the economic crisis pushes matters of environmental sustainability to the back burner -- and how it doesn't.

Reader Response from 'Watthead' Defends Big Government

Marc Gunther — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 09:48:00 -0700

A reader writes back: Blogger Jesse Jenkins, aka Watthead, responds to the post "Beware of Obama's 'Battery Gold Rush' " and argues that more government engagement is essential to spur a clean energy revolution.

'Green' Winners

GreenBiz Staff — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 09:39:00 -0700

This A.T. Kearney analysis finds that companies committed to corporate sustainability practices are achieving above average performance in the financial markets during this slowdown.

How Will the 'New GM' Affect Plans for the Volt?

Sarah Terry-Cobo — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 05:00:00 -0700

With the announcement on June 1 that General Motors will file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, hybrid car enthusiast blogs are a-buzz with the fate of the Chevy Volt, a gasoline-electric plug-in hybrid, slated to roll off the assembly line in November of 2010.

The Case for Water Quality Markets in Chesapeake Bay

Dan Nees — Fri, 22 May 2009 18:45:00 -0700

The Chesapeake Fund was launched earlier this year to jump-start the reduction of one million pounds of nitrogen annually in "hotspots" around the Chesapeake Bay watershed by channeling investments from nitrogen offsets into conservation and restoration practices.

Show Me the Money: Uncovering Rebates and Grants to Help Boost Business Efficiency

Sarah Fister Gale — Sun, 17 May 2009 18:24:00 -0700

In theory, free money in the form of grants, rebates and incentives to help businesses become more efficient is everywhere. But in reality, how do you get your piece of the pie?

Ten Tips for Finding Grants to Make Your Business Greener

Sarah Fister Gale — Sun, 17 May 2009 17:42:00 -0700

To help businesses win grants to make their operations easier, we asked industry experts for advice on finding and securing the best grants and incentives.

Growing Interest in the Climate Change Dividend

Judith Nemes — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 17:55:00 -0700

Investors are flocking to companies providing climate change products and services, but it isn't always easy for privately-held businesses to tap the stream of investment dollars.

Clean Technology and the Aroma of Emerging Opportunity

Joel Makower — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 17:00:00 -0700

Joel Makower writes from the annual gathering convened by the cleantech venture fund VantagePoint Venture Partners, which is meeting in Northern California's wine country this week.

Feds, Mayors Group Announce Plans for Clean Cities

GreenBiz Staff — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 02:32:00 -0700

The vice president detailed a $300 million dollar investment plan for stimulus funds to improve cities' public transit and vehicle fleets, while the National Conference of Black Mayors unveiled a comprehensive "Green the City" initiative.

Live from Investors' Circle: The Prospects for Social Enterprise

Amie Vaccaro — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Tuesday's Investors' Circle conference in San Francisco kicked off with a panel discussion on the prospects for social enterprise, bringing in voices from policy, academia, journalism and socially responsible investing (SRI).