Bonds are a set of financial products ideally suited to both the financing of long-payback period energy projects and to providing institutional investors with security of returns over the longer term. Climate Bonds are intended to unlock ‘patient capital’: taking savings which require secure returns over long periods of time, such as those held by pension funds, and investing them in low-carbon projects that have high up-front costs but good payback rates over the long term. Climate Bonds need not differ greatly from existing government and corporate bonds, save for their central purpose: the funds they attract are underpinned by real and verifiable energy efficiency and renewable energy projects that in some certifiable manner contribute to the mitigation of climate change. At a minimum this has marketing benefits, allowing investors to report to their members on how their secure investments are also making a contribution to addressing climate change. At a maximum, investors...

This Briefing Document, by Tomorrow’s Company, gives an overview of the concept of prosperity through climate protection, its existing implications and forthcoming projects, shown via the projects three main goals: Green Savings/Green Opportunities and Green Talent.The Tomorrow's Company Briefing Documents are intended to provide the reader with a comprehensive introduction to a particular topic. You can find the full list of Briefing Documents on forceforgood.com here.

A report to WWF International based on the Climate Risk Industry Sector Technology Allocation (CRISTAL) Model. This report models the ability of low-carbon industries to grow and transform within a market economy. It finds that runaway climate change is almost inevitable without specific action to implement low-carbon re-industrialisation over the next five years. The point of no return is estimated to be 2014. Climate Solutions 2 recognises that every industry has constraints on its ability to grow caused by limitations of resources, technology, capital and the size and skills of its workforce.

This is an Executive Summary report on the “Coal Plants in Transition: An Economic Case Study” prepared by Natural Capitalism Solutions in Colorado. The report makes a strong business case for energy providers to consider transitioning away from coal to a combination of renewable and energy efficiency technologies.  The transition becomes cost effective and quite profitable when combined with revenue streams that result from selling pollution credits (NOx, SO2), carbon credits, water rights, and also fuel savings.       The study specifically considers the Navajo Generating Station as an example. But the report is designed to provide information to utility managers all over the country who are faced with serious economic decisions regarding the future of their coal plants as we enter a carbon and water constrained world.

Innovest Strategic Value Advisors and the Environment Agency co-wrote a study in 2004 that provides a useful literature review of how responsible investment effects financial returns.  Furthermore there are fifteen case studies that look at how ESG policies have improved the profitability of companies ranging from Shell to Xstrata Plc.