Environmental

Forthcoming GRESB report to benchmark RE environmental, social performance

RACHEL ALEMBAKIS  |  FRIDAY, 5 AUG 2011  |  NEWS
In September, the Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark (GRESB) will release its second survey assessing the environmental and social performance of public and private real estate investments. GRESB will be used by institutional investors to engage ...

FSC, ACSI release ESG reporting guide for ASX companies

RACHEL ALEMBAKIS  |  FRIDAY, 5 AUG 2011  |  NEWS
The Financial Services Council (FSC) and the Australian Council of Superannuation Investors (ACSI) have launched their ESG Reporting Guide for Australian Companies, a framework for assisting companies in identifying and reporting their ESG risks.

Assistance will "significantly reduce" effects of carbon tax on industry

RACHEL ALEMBAKIS  |  WEDNESDAY, 3 AUG 2011  |  NEWS
Companies that fall under the government's proposed carbon pricing scheme will most likely see the negative effects on costs and earnings "significantly reduced" by the planned assistance package, according to research from MSCI. Emissions Intensive ...

Draft carbon tax legislation "faithful", but tricky in details

RACHEL ALEMBAKIS  |  FRIDAY, 29 JUL 2011  |  NEWS
The government has released the draft legislation necessary to implement its carbon tax regime. The Clean Energy Legislative Package is seen as a "faithful" implementation of the policy articulated on 10 July by Prime Minister Julia Gillard. But one ...

Low Carbon Australia certify Melbourne print company

RACHEL ALEMBAKIS  |  FRIDAY, 22 JUL 2011  |  NEWS
Low Carbon Australia has certified Melbourne-based printing company Mystique as carbon neutral.

Carbon tax regime to affect liability for joint ventures

RACHEL ALEMBAKIS  |  WEDNESDAY, 20 JUL 2011  |  NEWS
The government's proposed carbon tax regime will affect the way liability for carbon emissions is distributed between joint venture participants, according to an analysis by attorneys at Allens Arthur Robinson.

ACSI releases study on ASX200 ESG reporting

RACHEL ALEMBAKIS  |  FRIDAY, 15 JUL 2011  |  NEWS
When it comes to ASX200 companies and their ESG reporting, companies seem to be falling into the mould of the little girl with a little curl in the middle of her forehead in the much-recited children's poem -where the leading companies are good and getting ...

Institutional investors begin analysis of carbon tax impact

RACHEL ALEMBAKIS  |  FRIDAY, 15 JUL 2011  |  NEWS
Now that the government has announced its carbon mitigation scheme, institutional investors and their advisers are weighing how the proposals will impact on their assets and decisions going forward.

CBRE certified carbon neutral in Australia

RACHEL ALEMBAKIS  |  FRIDAY, 15 JUL 2011  |  NEWS
CB Richard Ellis' (CBRE) Australian operations have been certified carbon neutral by Low Carbon Australia. CBRE joined the voluntary National Carbon Offset Standard and is the first commercial real estate services firm in Australia to be certified carbon ...

Institutional investors back carbon tax scheme

RACHEL ALEMBAKIS  |  MONDAY, 11 JUL 2011  |  NEWS
Institutional investors have expressed broad support for the government's proposed carbon mitigation scheme. Under legislation outlined by Prime Minister Julia Gillard, the scheme will start from 1 July 2012. For the first three years, it will run as ...