Jean-Pierre Lehmann eloquently describes the opportunity to include Iran in globalisation which would benefit the world, rather than consuming resources needlessly. The benefits include participation of the nation with the fifth largest oil reserves, access to a great world civilisation and a balance to fundamentalist culture. We support his suggestions following: Stop treating Iran as …
Continue reading Turn Iran from a threat into an opportunity
Month:September 2007
US Fed drops rates from 5.25% to 4.75% – oh dear …
Oh dear … Well, it wasn’t as if it wasn’t expected. Futures were pricing a 100% chance of a drop of 0.25% and a 50% chance of a drop of 0.5%. But I still think it was a dangerous mistake. Inflation is pulling at the rein and the speculative dynamic of stock markets continues to …
Continue reading US Fed drops rates from 5.25% to 4.75% – oh dear …
More money than deals in clean tech
As we expected, there appear to be more money than deals in clean-tech. New Energy Finance reports: 2006 was another record year for Venture Capital and Private Equity investment in the clean energy sector, with $18.1 billion invested in companies and projects. This represented a 67% increase on 2005 ($10.8 billion), and beat New Energy …
Continue reading More money than deals in clean tech
IEA reports on poor record of energy consumption
Energy Use in the New Millennium by the International Energy Agency published on 10 September draws a gloomy picture of efforts made by the 26 IEA member countries to control their energy consumption since 1990, the reference year of the Kyoto Protocol on climate change. “Final energy-use increased by 14% between 1990 and 2004. This …
Continue reading IEA reports on poor record of energy consumption
Water shortage risks highlighted by Marsh
A report from the newly launched Marsh Center for Risk Insights highlights the risk of water shortages. Marsh was under severe scrutiny in 2005 for governance issues. They have clearly taken concerns of global sustainability to heart with the launch of their new research centre. Their report singles out water shortage as one of the …
Continue reading Water shortage risks highlighted by Marsh
DJSI company survey available
The ninth annual survey of the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes is available. More information about the report, as well as selected downloads about each industry leader and regional rankings, are available at http://www.sustainability-indexes.com.
Role of soil in climate change highlighted
The International Forum on Soils, Society and Climate Change, a title you wouldn’t have imagined a few years ago, attempts to raise our awareness of soil erosion and the impact it has on the environment. Every year, some 100,000 square kilometres of land loses its vegetation and becomes degraded or turns into desert. In addition, …
Continue reading Role of soil in climate change highlighted
Is Northern Rock the “whale” that signals the rebalancing of the price of liquidity?
Anatole Galetsky presents GaveKal’s perspective in Here Comes the Whale that Northern Rock is the large problem that needs bailing out in order to pass through the financial liquidity imbalance that has accrued during the past few years. … on past experience, the long-awaited appearance of the whale – Continental Illinois, Chrysler, Brazil, Drexel Burnham, …
Continue reading Is Northern Rock the “whale” that signals the rebalancing of the price of liquidity?
Norway’s high standard of sovereign fund management
The FT describes how Norway’s sovereign fund management sets the standard. Government Pension Fund-Global, part of Norges Bank, was set up by the Norwegian government in 1990 and manages about €235 billion. It has worked with authorities in Kazakhstan, East Timor, Bolivia, the Faroe Islands and several African countries among others. “We make no strategic …
Continue reading Norway’s high standard of sovereign fund management
EU reports water wastage of 40%
EU leaders agree that up to 40% of water is being wasted by consumers, industry and farmers across Europe. The EU executive is calling for higher water prices and better implementation of existing water-management rules. http://www.wbcsd.org/plugins/DocSearch/details.asp?type=DocDet&ObjectId=MjYxNDg Commission’s latest report is here. EU: 01 Septemeber Presidency Conclusions WWF: Freshwater page Commission: Water policy website