Report - Sustainability and the Finance Sector's Views on Opportunities in Extractives

Ethical Corporation has recently published a complimentary analysis on ‘How sustainability affects the way the finance sector views opportunities in extractives’. This report analyzes the financial pressures that oil, gas and mining companies face from three key perspectives: the commercial and multilateral lenders, with J.P. Morgan and the IFC, and the investor perspective with asset manager F&C.

The report gives a great insight into the evolving expectations and priorities of different financial stakeholders to the extractive industry and how this will affect extractive companies’ social performance and communication practices.

Video - Unleashing Public & Private Financing for a Low-Carbon Economy: Legislative Hearing in Silicon Valley Provides Policy Direction

Focused on the question of how to best leverage limited public dollars and maximize reductions in energy consumption and reduce greenhouse gases (GHG), Senator Kevin de Leόn, Chair of the Select Committee on Energy Efficiency, convened a hearing in Silicon Valley with local Senator Jim Beall (D-San Jose). Experts from private capital and clean energy companies explored California's opportunities to more effectively attain our goals to reduce GHG emissions to 1990 levels by the year 2020. We will need several strategies toward a low-carbon economy with the demands for electricity and fuel increasing every year. California's growing population, now 38 million, is expected to top 50 million by 2050.

Climate Adaptation and Finance Report (World Economic Forum)

A report on adaptation was released at the recent World Economic Forum in Davos. The 40 page report is titled, Climate Adaptation: Seizing the Challenge. The report offers the most up-to-date thinking in the field of climate adaptation and financing. The primary goal of this report is to assist decision-makers in the public and private sectors so that they can gain a better understanding of climate adaptation.

The report is premised on the understanding that reductions in greenhouse gases (GHGs) are not occurring at a quick enough rate to stave off the worst impacts of climate change. This implies that alongside ongoing efforts to mitigate climate impacts, societies also need to develop adaptation strategies.

The report indicates that decision makers need to look at “total climate risk” when considering adaptation investment and finance. This implies taking into account existing risk, future risk due to development and additional risk due to climate change.