When Better World Now! (BWN!) was looking for a method to balance its profit driven conservation models it had to seriously consider how carbon trading would affect its business model.

The New Forests Company (NFC) is using CDM to help finance its reforestation of an area in western Uganda in its Namwara project.

Edward Seyfried and Stuart Clenaghan, directors of Carbon Capital Limited, argue that meeting Kyoto should be viewed as a huge opportunity, which can yield not only marked environmental benefits and considerable financial returns, but by improving local social conditions can advance a corporation’s goal.

The story really started in 1991. Richard Sandor, chairman of Climate Exchange, attended the Earth Summit at Rio. Scientists and environmentalists laid out the issue of climate change.

After decades of mutual antagonism, Oliver Balch reports on how environmental activists and bankers are entering a new era of understanding through the Equator Principles.

Alternative energy investment is increasingly popular with banks that are seeking to diversify their project finance portfolios. Silvia Pavoni reports.

Carbon emissions trading may not seem an obvious market for banks to tap, but growing numbers are doing so. And, far from being a ‘fad’, emissions trading appears to fit well into banks’ wider businesses.

The International Finance Corporation’s tougher ethical guidelines for project finance are likely to result in an update of the Equator Principles. Oliver Balch reports on what this will mean for banks.