News – November 2012

Green investment bank to set itself emissions targets

The coalition’s green investment bank is to set itself targets for cutting carbon emissions as it attempts to raise tens of billions of extra investment in renewable power and energy efficiency. The chief executive of the new bank, Shaun Kingsbury, told the Guardian the bank’s board was to set “transparent” new measures for the CO2 emissions which will be prevented as a direct result of its £3bn in government funding, and the extra spending it hopes to raise from investors. …

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The Guardian »

Green Investment Bank plans its first Scottish investment this year

The chief executive of the newly-launched Green Investment Bank (GIB) is confident of securing the state-backed lender’s first investments in Scotland before the end of this year. Shaun Kingsbury was speaking after the bank’s official launch in Edinburgh today, when details of its first funding projects were unveiled by Business Secretary Vince Cable. The GIB is backed with £3 billion of UK government money, aimed at boosting the economy by investing in areas such as …

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The Scotsman »

German renewable energy drive brings emissions cuts success

Germany has reduced its greenhouse gas emissions significantly in recent years as it has pushed forward a renewable agenda leadingEurope into an age of wind and solar power. In the past year, the country’s CO2 emissions fell by 2.4% compared with 2010, according to figures released by Germany’s Federal Environment Agency (UBA). The decrease, say experts, has largely come through a push towards renewable energy that has accelerated since the country began its move away from nuclear power.

The Guardian »

Doha climate talks represent ‘golden opportunity’

The latest round of UN climate talks have opened in Doha, the capital of Qatar. More than 17,000 participants from all over the world are expected to gather in the Gulf state over the next two weeks. The President of the meeting said it was a “golden opportunity” to make progress on a new global climate deal. But many delegates remain concerned that divisions between developing and wealthy nations will hamper progress.

BBC News »

Scotland tops EU emissions reduction table

Scotland is at the top of the European league table for emissions reductions, Minister for Environment and Climate Change Paul Wheelhouse revealed today. Between 1990-2010, emissions in Scotland fell by 22.8 per cent. The European Environment Agency Greenhouse Gas Data Viewer shows this is the largest reduction among the EU-15 Member States – and higher than the EU-27 Member States average of 14.3 per cent, when emissions from international aviation and shipping and the land …

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The Scottish Government »