G8 agrees on cutting emissions by half by 2050
Germany, Canada, United States, France, UK, Italy, Japan and Russia had another meeting, this time in Japan, where they announced the agreement on the reduction of at least 50% of the World emissions till 2050. World leaders will also support 20 experimental projects of CO2 capture and hold till 2010. The World Bank will also be supported in the creation of two funds to fight the planet overheating, facilitating 6 billion dollars.
G8 also asked to the oil world producers to increase the capacities of production and refinery. The oil prices doubled in a year and materials also had a big increase. They renewed the necessity of targeting for energy efficiency and diversification. [more info www.publico.pt or www.ft.pt]

Ambitech Açores 2008: First national initiative joins environment and innovation.
9th, 10th and 11th July
Ponta Delgada - Portugal

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The Guardian Climate Change Summit 2008
Wednesday July 16th
Business Design Centre, London

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Info providers launch real-time corporate ESG rankings
ASSET4, the Swiss sustainability research house, has combined corporate ESG (environmental, social and governance) and financial data into one trading screen it says can be used alongside existing financial screens such as Bloomberg and Reuters, as a growing number of providers target increasing demand for relevant, timely ESG factors in investment decisions.(…)
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UN reports 60% spike in sustainable energy investments - Solar shines but wind remains largest renewables sector.
Investment into sustainable energy sectors jumped by over 60% during 2007 with the amount of money raised reaching $148.4bn (€96bn), according to a study by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
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Companies introduce human rights in their corporate responsibility agenda
Major Brazilian companies presented a declaration where they compromise in prioritizing the human rights, implementing actions that promote in the workplace equity of genre and race, that eradicate slave work in the value chain, that include disabled people and that support the promotion of children rights.
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Tool for investors to evaluate the impacts and dependence of companies within the food, drink and tobacco sectors on biodiversity and ecosystem services.
This tool is designed to enable investors to:
1.Evaluate how well the companies in these sectors are managing the potential risks and opportunities associated with these issues; and
2.Engage with such companies to reduce their potential risk exposure and capitalize on opportunities.
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Economy and Energy Edge Environment as Top Consumer Concern: Survey
Most American believe the environment is worse off now than five years ago, and see industry as having the weakest track record of environmental protection, according to a new survey.
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Clear thinking: how sustainability reporting can help China’s small to medium sized businesses
China’s small and medium businesses are quickly becoming China’s innovators of tomorrow. Internationally, innovation in many countries is taking place in garage workshops and factories of small to medium sized companies. In China, this is also fast becoming the rule.
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