95 percent of the population in Uganda has no electric power in their homes and relies on paraffin lamps for lighting. But not only is kerosene expensive, it's also a serious pollutant. Set up in 2010, the project Solar Sister has now provided almost 32,000 Ugandans with solar technology - and trained women as saleswomen. They're earning a living, helping their community and protecting the environment. In the course of ten years, a solar lamp saves over 600 liters of kerosene and that means CO2 savings of 1.5 tons. Solar Sister hopes to have helped save 10 million tons of CO2 over the next ten years.
It’s all in the numbers. While Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Vietnam all have population growth rates of at least 1 percent per year between 2010 and 2015, Thailand’s is only 0.3 percent. Its total fertility rate of 1.4 children per woman is significantly lower than the Philippines (3.1), Indonesia (2.3) and Malaysia (2.0). Thailand’s labor force growth rate is also the lowest of the six countries, coming in at 0.8 percent per year compared with 2.4 percent for the Philippines. And while immigration helps plug labor force gaps in other countries in the region, the growth in migration compared with the overall population is minimal in Thailand, and out-migration has become more prevalent in recent years. - See more at: https://www.thefinancialist.com/the-curious-case-of-thailand/#sthash.IFBsrZcv.dpuf
The pension details are contained in a response to a Freedom of Information request from the EA, which lists the companies it had a stake in as of March this year, its latest available audited information. And its investments are in marked contrast to the Agency's public image of being a leading "responsible" investor that integrates "environmental, social and governance considerations into all decision-making." The Agency champions its commitment that by 2015 "25 per cent of the fund will be invested in the sustainable and green economy".
Despite these bold claims, the list reveals that the EA, which was heavily criticised last year for its response to flooding, holds £50m direct investments in oil and gas companies such as Shell, BP and BG Group, as well as millions more in indirect oil and gas funds. This year the EA commissioned a report on the risk to its fossil fuel investments becoming "stranded assets" but was advised against disinvesting. "Reducing investment exposure to the fossil industry does not precipitate a reduced prevalence of that industry," argued its consultants.
But green campaigners disagree. Fossil fuels are already "a risky investment and certainly will be into the future. The really 'responsible' investor is the one who recognises that now before it's too late," argues Charlie Kronick, energy markets adviser to Greenpeace UK.
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