Latest news with #SustainableTimes
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Two major public pension funds make colossal announcement about their priorities: 'Poses a financial risk'
Pension funds are putting their money where the green is, and it's paying off in more ways than one. As Sustainable Times reported, two of the U.K.'s largest public pension pools have announced over £330 million in new funding dedicated to green initiatives, from renewable energy to enhanced healthcare. This announcement signals not just a shift in financial priorities but a growing global confidence that climate-aligned investing is also smart economic policy. The London Pensions Fund Authority allocated £250 million, or roughly 3% of its entire portfolio, toward environmental assets through its new Environmental Opportunities Fund. Meanwhile, Border to Coast Pensions Partnership, which oversees assets across 11 U.K. local government pensions, committed £80 million in new U.K.-focused impact investments. These investments will also support life sciences infrastructure in the "Golden Triangle" — comprising the cities of London, Cambridge, and Oxford — and large-scale wind and solar projects. "The impact of climate change poses a financial risk to pension funds like ours, so we're taking climate action to protect our members' pensions," LPFA chief executive Jo Donnelly told Sustainable Times. These investments in clean energy and sustainability-focused businesses are increasingly outperforming dirty fuel stocks over the long term, which means investors and governments are starting to see them as a win-win for profits and people. From California's $2 billion investment in solar to France's recent green industry push, investments in clean energy are growing. Even though the market has had its ups and downs, clean energy keeps gaining ground. It's getting cheaper to produce, while polluting fuels like coal, gas, and oil stay unpredictable and costly. Should the government be paying us to upgrade our homes? Definitely Depends on how much it costs Depends on what it's for No way Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. A report from the U.K. Sustainable Investment and Finance Association supported this direction, urging pension reform to unleash even more capital into the green economy. With billions flowing into the clean economy, now's the perfect time to follow the smart money and make your own portfolio part of the solution. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
First-of-its-kind ship makes history with inaugural voyage: 'A better future'
In what could be a pivotal moment for the future of sustainable shipping, the world's first ammonia-powered ship arrived at London's Canary Wharf in March 2025. According to Sustainable Times, the Fortescue Green Pioneer set out from Singapore in January and completed a journey of over 12,000 nautical miles after calling at Southampton for inspections. After being given the all-clear by authorities, the ship's company hopes that the tour will demonstrate the viability of ammonia for use in low-carbon shipping fuel. Fortescue's executive chairman and founder, Andrew Forrest, told Sustainable Times: "This will not only deliver a better future for the planet but accelerate a reduction in shipping costs through the widespread adoption and scaling of renewable energy." The UN Trade and Development noted that shipping accounts for roughly 3% of harmful planet-warming gas pollution worldwide. The massive cargo ships that carry out the bulk of global trade need vast amounts of fuel. Heavy fuel oil (HFO) is the most common type, which powers about 60% of the world's large ocean-going vessels, per Forbes. HFO is incredibly toxic, and its density makes it much harder to clean up after a spill. Despite the controversy, it is still widely used because it is the cheapest form of heavy-duty fuel that is widely available. Greener alternatives have been hard to come by until now. For example, hydrogen alone is extremely difficult to store and transfer over long distances. However, ammonia, a compound of hydrogen and nitrogen, can be liquified, stored, and transported much more easily, as the U.S. National Science Foundation observed. Ammonia is just one of several areas of promising research into alternative fuel sources. While the inaugural journey is promising, there are still some key hurdles to be overcome for it to be viable at scale. Would you want EV-charging roads installed in your town? Sign me up Depends how much it costs No way I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Research from MIT, published in the Environmental Research Letters journal, found that ammonia as a fuel poses key health risks that will require careful management in the future. "We find that the public health impacts of switching from fossil fuel to ammonia depends largely on the technology and policy choices," the study detailed. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Company places $50 million order to build aircraft like nothing we've seen before: 'The sky is no longer the limit'
Since the Hindenburg disaster in 1937, commercial airship travel has slowed to the point that it almost does not exist anymore. A select few companies use airships for advertising purposes, but recent years have not been favorable to bringing airships back for commercial use — until now. Straightline Aviation, a hybrid airship company, has partnered with another aviation company, AT² Aerospace, an offshoot of Lockheed Martin, to build the world's first cargo airship, which will usher in a new era of cargo shipping. The Z1 hybrid airship, as Sustainable Times reported, gets about 80% of its lift from helium, a non-flammable gas, while the other 20% is derived from its aerodynamic design and four engines. It also is able to carry cargo up to 20 tons while holding 19 passengers. (The Hindenburg likely ignited when an electrostatic discharge met leaking hydrogen.) "Lockheed Martin believes in the potential for hybrid airships to transform global transport," the company said in a brief public statement. "The AT² team is developing airship solutions to support commercial and humanitarian applications around the world." Compared to current air-travel technology, the environmental impact of the Z1 hybrid airship is shockingly low. Using just one-fifth of the fuel of a heavy-lift helicopter and producing only one-10th of the carbon emissions, the airship will be one of the most low-impact options for air travel that has ever been recorded. It is essential to cut reliance on dirty energy sources, as they release heat-trapping gases into the atmosphere when burned. Lessening such pollution means that health problems, such as heart and lung disease, will be reduced, while air quality will improve. While AT² hopes to deploy these new hybrid airships by 2028, excitement is already forming about the possibilities of the technology — and what it can do for the world of transport and the environment. "The partnership with Straightline Aviation represents a transformative moment in sustainable aviation," said Bob Boyd, president and CEO. "Our hybrid airships will transform cargo transport by providing an environmentally responsible solution while maintaining operational efficiency." Hammaad Saghir of Sustainable Times wrote: "As the aviation industry pivots towards sustainability, the Z1 hybrid airship represents a bold step into the future — where innovation meets necessity. And the sky is no longer the limit." Which of these factors would most effectively convince you to support nuclear energy projects in your area? Lower energy bills Safety and reliability More local jobs Environmental benefits Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
