EFP Online News – Post-Kyoto text emerging, renewables boost expected

Business for Democracy and ASBC Lead Effort to Overturn Citizens United v. FEC

The Business for Democracy Campaign, which the American Sustainable Business Council is spearheading in partnership with Free Speech for People is tackling the compelling issue of corporate contributions to political campaigns.

The U.S. Supreme Court’s Citizens United v. FEC decision on January 21, 2010 allows corporations to spend unlimited funds to support or oppose candidates for political office, overturning campaign finance laws in place for decades. The Business for Democracy campaign is an initiative of business leaders and their companies who believe this ruling is in direct conflict with American democratic principles and a serious threat to good government. The campaign supports the four members of the Supreme Court and the 80 percent of Americans who disagree with the decision (Washington Post poll, Feb. 17, 2010).

If you'd like your business to join this effort, you can sign the statement of support here or here.

EFP Online News – Post-Kyoto text emerging, renewables boost expected

Online News 21 May

Nominations open for Environmental Finance annual awards
21 May: Environmental Finance is soliciting nominations for its annual awards – which aim to recognise excellence in applying capital markets know-how to solving the world’s environmental problems.

Waxman moves House closer to Senate on renewables
21 May: The loosening of renewable energy targets in the proposed US House of Representatives climate and energy bill brings its provisions closer to Senate renewables proposals – making federal targets more likely, say observers. More…

CCX leads doubling of voluntary market volumes – report
21 May: Voluntary carbon markets doubled in size and value in 2008, consistent with the trend in 2007 and in line with earlier predictions, according to a report released yesterday. More…

Market welcomes UN negotiating texts (from Carbon Finance)
21 May: Carbon market participants have welcomed the publication of three negotiating texts for a post-2012 climate change treaty, despite them showing the mountain of work that needs to be done before December’s Copenhagen talks. More…

Energy chiefs bullish on renewable support
21 May: Senior executives in the energy industry predict that subsidies for renewable energy will increase during the next year, despite economic troubles that have plagued the globe, according to a KPMG mergers and acquisitions report. More…

Biopetrol chief slams German government for bringing biodiesel sector low (from Bioenergy Business)
21 May: The chief executive of biodiesel producer Biopetrol Industries launched a stinging attack on Germany’s politicians – including the Chancellor Angela Merkel – for almost destroying the country’s biodiesel sector through double standards, egoism, bowing to special interests and politicking. More…

Investors call for stronger carbon market
21 May: An alliance of institutional investors managing €4 trillion in assets has called for carbon markets to be strengthened and broadened – but is also calling for alternative policies to attract climate-related investments in developing countries. More…

Faulty turbines deepen losses at Clipper Windpower
21 May: Losses widened to $313.3 million at Clipper Windpower in 2008, as the wind turbine maker was forced to spend $300 million over two years fixing faults. More…