Green Options

The G20 will meet next week in London, and while police are bracing for clamoring anti-globalization and climate change protests, organizers say all the planned events will be peaceful.

While the failures of the banking system will take the forefront (get used to hearing the phrase “Bankers are wankers”), organizers have also planned protests to the G20’s response to climate change.

HSBC Bank, in an effort to raise awareness of global warming, has inserted an aerial image of a cityscape at the bottom of a swimming pool. The global warming swimming pool certainly would give swimmers a different perspective on the problem, although I doubt we will be leisurely swimming above submerged cities if it comes to that.

Via:  Neatorama

Editor’s note: We’re pleased to bring you this profile of The Nature Conservancy’s new president and CEO, Mark Tercek by Cameron Walker, a regular contributor to The Katoomba Group’s Ecosystem Marketplace. This post was originally published on Tuesday, August 12, 2008.

The new head of the Nature Conservancy is a 24-year Goldman Sachs vet who thinks big and acts globally. The Ecosystem Marketplace talks to Mark Tercek about his past success, his current challenges and his vision for TNC’s future.

Mark Tercek’s kids are stoked. They’ve been on family eco-vacations to Greenland, Patagonia, the Galapagos Islands and Costa Rica — and now, their dad is in charge of a conservation powerhouse that protects many of the spots they’ve visited.

Tercek, who became president and CEO of The Nature Conservancy (TNC) July 15, ran Goldman Sachs’ Center for Environmental Markets and the firm’s Environmental Strategy Group.

Growing up in Cleveland, Tercek didn’t have extensive exposure to the natural world apart from local parks. Now as a parent of four, he’s gone global so that his own kids can experience nature firsthand.

Clearly, they love it. “When my kids learned I got the job as head of the Conservancy, they were just as excited as I was,” he says.

Along with enthusiasm, Tercek arrives at TNC with decades of experience in the investment banking world and, since 2005, he’s been bridging the narrowing gap between finance and conservation through Goldman Sachs’ environmental initiatives.

Editor’s note: This week, Celsias writer Britt Gordon-McKeon looks at a new savings account option from socially conscious banking trailblazer ShoreBank. This post was originally published on October 16, 2007.

For the first time in the U.S., a triple-bottom line bank (working towards social, environmental and financial goals) is offering a high-interest online savings account. ShoreBank’s new ShoreBank Direct account currently offers a 5.00% APY with a $1 minimum,

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Editor’s note: We’re always happy to share green and ethical financial opportunities with you. We ask that you remember that we’re not financial advisors, though, so we are sharing… not recommending. Always do your own homework before making an investment.

Whether you just cashed in with a winning lotto number or just have a bit of extra cash lying around, investing can be easily overwhelming and intimidating. If you want to avoid financing

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Editor’s note: As you’ll figure out from reading Christan’s posts, she watches the markets for clean technology and alternative fuels very closely. At the same time, though, she’s not a licensed financial advisor, so nothing in her posts should be taken as advice to buy, sell, or otherwise take action in the markets. She’s not trying to push anything here — just offering her observations.

Maybe you don’t read the NY Times religiously,

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Editor's note: Please welcome our newest writer, Christan Wasniewski. Based in St. Louis, Christan has worked in the world of international finance, and is now in the process of starting up the non-profit International Poverty Solutions, Inc., which will incubate and support businesses focused on alleviating international poverty, and finding market-based solutions to environmental challenges.

When was the last time we saw so many major companies make a mad dash to become more "eco-friendly"? From

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If lawmakers on Capitol Hill want to cut carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions that cause global warming, they will have to face another giant to make real progress: A government program, hailing from the Depression era, that sends billions of dollars of low-interest loans to rural areas to build coal plants. The Rural Electrification Administration was created in 1935 by President Franklin Roosevelt to bring electricity to U.S. farms. The mission has been accomplished, but the [...]

A hugely successful solar power project in India is providing clean, affordable electricity for 100,00 people and will be reproduced in other developing nations.

The $1.5 million United Nations-backed project aims to increase the number of homes using solar power in the Karnataka state of southern India. The number of homes using solar power has risen from 1,400 just four years ago to 18,000 today. Indian banks have also helped out by financing the

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Your credit just got a little greener.

Wells Fargo credit card and bank card customers have another choice in redeeming rewards points. Now, in addition to gift cards or airline tickets, Wells Fargo is offering up wind power. 5,000 points will get you 6,000 kilowatt hours, which they say is "equivalent to the clean air benefits of three acres of pine forest storing carbon for one year." 10,000 points will

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