China tops list of world's list of investors in clean energy

Despite what you may have heard in the press about China being a major polluter, it remains the world's leading investor in low-carbon energy technology according to a study by the US Pew Environment Group. The Chinese invested $54.4bn (£34.1bn) in low carbon technology across 2010, an increase of $39.1bn from 2009. The US also increased its investment $34bn, but it still fell from 2nd to 3rd in the ranking, behind Germany at $41.2bn. Disappointingly, the UK did not even make the top 10 as investment fell by 70% in 2010.

Electric cars take a step forward

Research chemists at BASF are working on next-generation lithium-ion batteries that will have significantly improved energy densities and lower material costs than today’s products. The researchers are hoping that the technology will increase the travelling range of current hybrid vehicles and bring long-distance all-electric cars closer to mainstream production. Company research director Dr Andreas Kreimeyer said: Existing batteries are too expensive, their range is too limited and their weight is still much too high. We must develop innovative concepts for more efficient electric cars if we are to convince potential users.

New species of monkey discovered

Scientists have discovered what they believe to be a new species of monkey living in the northern eastern Myanmar region of Burma. The monkeys are distinctive in appearance due to their strange, upturned nostrils. The total population of this new species is estimated to be just 300 individuals and they are critically endangered. The new species has been named the Burmese snub-nosed monkey [read more]

Only nine car companies achieved EU target for CO2 emissions in 2011

According to figures produced by Clean Green Cars, only nine car companies have achieved the EU target for CO2 emissions of 130g per km set for 2012. However, on a more positive note, overall emissions for new cars fell by over 4 percent.

The nine car companies who achieved emission targets were:

Fiat
Citroen
Toyota
SEAT
Lexus
Mini
Alfa Romeo
Peugeot
Hyundai

Many well known car manufacturers, some of whom promote themselves as green and eco-friendly, failed to meet the EU’s emission targets and do not appear in the list of nine. Another example of ‘greenwash’ aimed at deceiving car buyers where reality is divorced from the truth.

The same principle applies to green car insurance, where companies who promote their ostensibly green credentials have simply bought carbon credits without actually doing anything worthwhile to protect the environment.