Solar Roadways: Science Fiction Becoming Reality

Solar roads are entering a new test phase that will see them installed along a portion of the iconic route 66. Solar Roadways is the brainchild of Scott and Julie Brusaw of Idaho.  It all started ten years ago when Scott, an electrical engineer and his wife Julie began to imagine how solar panels could be embedded into the road. The concept eventually incorporated LEDs that could illuminate highways, and replace road lines. These solar panels can also be heated enabling them to melt snow and ice. The panels used in olar roadways are made out of recycled glass and in addition to collecting renewable energy, the panels can even redistribute storm water.

Green Banks Leverage Private Investments for Climate Finance

In addition to creating new jobs and improving the environment Green Banks are essential to ramping-up clean energy finance. Such banks are capable of helping to unleash the vast potential of climate focused investing. Green Banks reduce the cost of clean energy and efficiency. They are helping to change market thinking by taking a holistic, long-term view of industry support.

A Green Bank is a government-created institution that facilitates private sector financing for clean technology projects. Different Green Banks have different programs, however, they all leverage public funds to attract private investment.

Green Finance Goes Mainstream in 2016

The world is embracing green finance as never before and all expectations are that this will increase as we move towards a low carbon economy. Financial systems should play an important role in the green economic transition said, Zhou Xiaochuan, the Governor of the People's Bank of China. Zhou was speaking at the Green Finance Symposium which took place on Saturday, April 15th in Washington.
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After years of volatility, green finance is emerging as a central part of our efforts to address climate change and transform our energy infrastructure. Green finance is preoccupied with adapting to the impacts of climate change and/or reducing greenhouse gas emissions. It is the means by which we can stream tremendous amounts of needed capital into emissions free sources of power.

Green Bonds Emerging as a Major Force in Green Finance

The momentum driving green bonds is growing and they have emerged as a major instrument of green finance. Green bonds generate funding for sustainable development and clean energy technology. They attract debt investment capital and drive innovation in renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, forests and other environmental causes. At COP21 green bonds were touted as being one of the vehicles that could help deliver $100 billion annually by 2020 to support of climate action.

IDB to Double Climate Related Projects

In October last year Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) announced that it is going to double its climate related projects by increasing financing by between 25 and 30 percent by 2020. The IDB was established in 1959, it offers long-term financing for economic, social and institutional development in Latin America and the Caribbean.

World Bank to Finance More Renewables in the Developing World

After being called out for hypocrisy, the World Bank is working to redeem itself through massive investments in renewable energy. The International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group are holding their annual "Spring Meetings events" in Washington, DC, on April 12-17, 2016. It will be attended by thousands of government officials, journalists, civil society organizations, and participants from the academia and private sectors. The meetings will feature seminars, regional briefings, press conferences, and many other events focused on the global economy, international development, and the world's financial markets.

Innovative Solar Energy Financing Instruments

Investments in solar energy are booming alongside some innovative financing instruments. As explained by President Obama a bit more than a year ago every four minutes, an American home or business goes solar. There are a host of new financial instruments that serve the green economy and starting in 2013 we began to see some innovative approaches to finance in the solar sector.

New Sustainability Focused Financial Instruments

Investors have a wide assortment of new financially responsible instruments. Sustainability investment options run the gamut from simple things like energy conservation projects to complex multi-stakeholder initiatives that target social and environmental improvements. Responsible investing, impact investing, socially responsible investing covers the full range of asset classes in many sectors. This includes instruments that combat climate change, encourage conservation and support social causes. Some examples include green bonds, climate bonds, yield cos, conservation investment and natural resources

Event - Green Bonds 2015 Conference

The 5th annual Green Bonds conference will take place on June 22 June 2015, at the Hilton Tower Bridge Hotel, 5 More London Place, Tooley Street, London, UK.

This event is presented by Environmental Finance proud supporters of the green bond market since its inception. The conference has long been the home of movers, shakers and vital discussions in this growing market. Indeed, the seed of the Green Bond Principles was sown at our 2013 conference, when two influential bankers began a conversation about how to add some standardisation to the market.

China Using Drones to Combat Air Pollution

Chemical dispersing drones are being used by the Chinese government to combat the serious smog problem in Beijing. The pollution in Beijing is caused primarily by the cities five million motor vehicles, nearby coal burning, dust storms and local construction dust.

Previously, fixed wing aircraft sprayed chemicals that freeze floating particles, allowing them to fall to ground. Now these chemicals will be sprayed by an unmanned parafoil drone designed by the state owned Aviation Industry Corporation of China. The new design uses the same chemicals but can carry three time more weight (700kg) than fixed wing designs making it 90 percent less expensive to operate.

Event - Global Geothermal Summit: Indonesia and Philippines 2014

Global Geothermal Summit: Indonesia and Philippines 2014 will take place on Thursday March 20 to Friday March 21, 2014, in Indonesia. With in-depth research and careful investigation, the Global Geothermal Summit is ready for you to update industry information and to network with C-level executives in Bali.

Positioned in the ring of fire, both Indonesia and the Philippines are granted huge potential of geothermal. Indonesia is even estimated to own 40 percent of the world’s geothermal reserve. Challenged to increase the supply of electricity, Indonesia and the Philippines have issued policy, regulation as well as finance incentives to accelerate the exploitation of geothermal.

Beijing Passes New Air Pollution Law

China is plagued by dangerous air pollution, and the city of Beijing has taken the first step to address the issue. Beijing, one of the most polluted cities in the world, has introduced China’s first legally binding regulations. The new rules are designed to reduce PM2.5 levels were overwhelmingly approved by Beijing’s municipal congress by a vote of 659 to 23.

Particulate Matter, 2.5 micrometers or less are abbreviated as PM2.5. They are defined as fine particles in the (ambient) air that are 2.5 micrometres or less in size. They are small enough to invade even the smallest airways and they are known to produce respiratory and cardiovascular illness. They generally come from activities that burn fossil fuels, such as traffic, smelting, and metal processing.

China's national standard is 35-micrograms of PM2.5 per cubic meter, while Beijing has levels that are more than twice that level (89.5 micrograms). Beijing Mayor Wang Anshun has said that air pollution is the biggest problem concerning people’s livelihoods in the capital.

China's New Year: Smog and Drought Underscore the Contradiction of Pollution and Mitigation

As China celebrates its new year festival, many of the country's major cities appear deserted as millions of workers returned to their childhood homes in rural parts of the nation. On the upside the mass exodus has improved air quality in some of China's biggest cities. However, as the New Year was being celebrated another round of heavy smog hit a large region of the country.

In China, the Lunar New Year ushers in the year of the Horse which is one of 12 animals that make up the Chinese zodiac. According to Chinese astrology the year will be marked by conflict. One of the ongoing issues that is contributing to social tensions in the country is the problem of smog.

Event - Venture Summit West

This event will take place on February 12, 2014, at the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, California. The summit content will include discussions and educational tracks focused on cleantech. The Second annual Venture Summit West, presented by youngStartup Ventures, is the premier industry gathering connecting venture capitalists, corporate VCs, angel investors, technology transfer professionals, senior executives of early stage and emerging growth companies, university researchers, incubators and premier service providers.

Event - Clean and Cool 2013

This event will take place from November 30 to December 7, 2013 in Colorado. Clean and Cool Mission Colorado is an entrepreneur mission to help the UK’s most promising early stage and innovative cleantech SMEs do business in the US faster.

Discussion - The Other Debt Ceiling: Using Finance to Balance Our Environmental Budget

This discussion will take place on November 20, 2013, and is presented by Solar One and NYC ACRE 7 p.m. -9 p.m. (Doors at 6:30), The WNYC Jerome L. Greene Performance Space 44 Charlton Street, New York City.

As weather events become more extreme, water shortages threaten, and human sprawl leads to biodiversity loss, there is a new focus on the global economic impact of environmental degradation. Studies from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Harvard School of Public Health, and others assert that our active growth and inactive conservation efforts have left us with a trillion-dollar bill.

Chinese Smog Crisis is Driving the Transition to a Greener Economy

Air quality and other environmental concerns are forcing China to transition to a greener more sustainable  economy. With visibility in Harbin, China being reduced to 10 meters, the city was shut down by a thick blanket of smog that descended on Monday, October 21. Levels of smog in the city are five to ten times worse than America's most smog ridden city, (the Southern California city of Bakersfield). While officials are blaming the dense smog in Harbin on heating, the real issue is the country's reliance on coal.

China's Economic Growth and Low Carbon Leadership

China's economy is growing along with the nation's efforts to combat climate change. The nation is an increasingly competitive leader in low carbon thanks to its renewable energy initiatives, sustainability efforts, and reductions in CO2 and HCFCs.

The latest economic reports out of China indicate that the country has increased its rate of growth. The Chinese economy grew by 7.8% in the third quarter of 2013 compared to a year earlier, the highest growth rate so far this year. Foreign investment in China rose to $8.8 billion (US), marking a 4.9% increase over last year. Manufacturing output recorded double-digit growth for the second month in a row, expanding by 10.2% in September. Credit Suisse expects the Chinese economy to grow by 7.6% in 2013 and 7.7% in 2014.

Video - Winner Crosses Finish Line at the 2013 Bridgestone World Solar Challenge

Watch the final moments of the grueling Bridgestone World Solar Challenge as the winning team for 2013 crosses the finish line in northern Adelaide, Australia. This 3000 kms event highlights some of the best solar powered car technology in the world.

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Event - Clean Energy Conference and Exhibition: ICCE 2013

Clean Energy Conference and Exhibition: ICCE 2013 will take place Monday September 9 - Wednesday September, 11, 2013 in Ottawa, Ontario. ICCE 2013 will take place on the banks of the majestic Ottawa, Rideau and Gatineau Rivers. Ottawa is one of the most beautiful G8 capitals in the world. Ottawa is also rich in culture and heritage with its many national institutions, parklands, waterways and historic architecture.