Around the world, many countries are seeking new ways to index information on companies that produce, dispense, sell, and use cannabis. It has created a global information network to provide adequate research for knowledge-seekers to make informed decisions about anything related to cannabis.

What is Cannabis, and Why Is It Important to Track It ?

Cannabis is a medicinal plant that is popularly known as “weed.” It has both recreational and medical uses as a pain reliever, euphoria-inducing substance, and psychotropic substance. Although cannabis as a plant makes a beneficial herb, it also contains several compounds that are useful on their own. With over 100 active agents in the plant, scientists mainly focus on two of these most active agents. They are known as THC and cannabinol.

Although research has shown that there are many benefits attached to using cannabis in aromatherapy, recreational treatments, pain relief, and even Tourette’s syndrome, there is also significant proof that cannabis can have effects that are detrimental to the health of individuals, which is why it needs to be tracked.

How Does The US Track Cannabis-Related Businesses ?

There are several ways that the US can track cannabis businesses, including through their stock inflow, output, investors, etc. However, they effectively use the newsroom Marijuana Index to keep track of information about industries that use THC and cannabinol, producers of marijuana, and distributors as well. This index also provides information about stock prices and news on scientific discoveries about cannabis by globally recognized organizations.

Information obtained from this index can be helpful in various contexts apart from industrial use and investment advice. For example, there are a lot of educational outreaches and workshops to teach people about the health implications of cannabis abuse. The information obtained from the proper tracking of cannabis businesses and their discoveries in scientific research can provide these educational campaigns with factual information that can significantly reduce abuse of the substance and accidents related to the unprescribed use of cannabis.

Furthermore, it can also have the desired effect of reducing false information about cannabis and businesses related to it. In turn, this will help people discover the health benefits of cannabinoids and THC. These benefits include sleeping aids, helping with anxiety, improving hair growth, boosting appetite, and more.

Conclusion

The unique nature of the information provided on the cannabis index makes it easy for anybody going through the channel to find knowledge that is specific to their cause and the type of cannabis-related substance they want. So, if you’re searching for information on cannabis, what it does, current research, and political and legal information about the substance, the cannabis index may be the best place to find valuable and accurate information. You can access it whenever you want if you have an internet-enabled device.

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Believe it or not, as of a recent report, 10 states in the US now consider solar panels to be standard when building a new home. In another state, you can get a tax break for having them put in on an existing home. They’ve even started giving out grants to cover the costs in a handful of states.

So what are you waiting for? Let’s take a look at all the reasons why you should make the switch to solar.

1. Save Money on Energy Costs

With energy costs on the rise, investing in solar panels is a great way to save money on energy costs long-term. Many states and local governments offer incentives and rebates for those who invest in solar panels. Additionally, you can lower energy bills by producing energy from solar panels.

With advances in solar technology, many solar panel models are efficient, meaning you get more energy for the cost of set-up. Furthermore, excess energy generated by solar panels can be sold back to the utility company often. Once set up, solar panels little to no maintenance and can last for decades.

With proper installation, solar panels can reduce energy costs and provide investment. Browse this site to know more about the benefits of solar panel.

2. Local Government or Utility Companies May Provide Incentives

Local governments may provide incentives for investing in solar panels due to the many financial benefits they can bring. Incentives could include rebates, tax exemptions and credits, loans, and other financing options. Those who installing solar panels have the potential to lower their electricity bills, as well as be credited for energy they produce but do not use.

Some states also mandated that utility companies must provide customers with the option to buy renewable energy. And giving them the option to invest in renewable energy without much financial risk. Solar energy investments can also increase the property value of homes and businesses.

Also, provide savings for both public and private entities, such as schools and hospitals. With the incentives, local governments and utility companies will encourage people to invest in solar.

Rebates

Investing in solar panels can bring about many financial benefits, especially if you can take advantage of rebates. Rebates are the local incentives offered to individuals and/or businesses. as partial reimbursement for solar panel installation costs.

On the jurisdiction, investments made in solar panels may result in a considerable reduction in state or local taxes. A solar energy investment may also be eligible to be written off on taxes, depending on local regulations.

Tax exemptions

One great benefit is the tax exemptions and deductions that may come with them. These can vary depending on where you live. Some of the exemptions include credits for installation and equipment costs.

These incentives bring down the return on investment associated with solar energy investments. And it will help make the switch to solar energy more cost-effective for all. With the many financial benefits associated with solar energy investments, it’s no wonder why more people are making the switch each day.

Credits

Other countries offer different credits that reward businesses for investing in solar panels. These credits lead to a decrease in the cost of solar installation, making it a more attractive option. Countries such as the United States, Italy, and Japan.

They offer incentives that range from credit deductions to outright grants. Because of a combination of energy and net metering. They can receive credit on their energy bills for solar energy produced. .

Loans

Loans are a popular option for those who would like to go solar and can be a great way to spread the cost of a solar installation. Many loans offer an interest-free or low-interest period of up to 25 years, allowing homeowners to make payments without having to worry about increasing interest rates. They reduce one of the major financial benefits of investing in solar panels’ energy costs.

3. Increase in Property Value

One of the main financial advantages for homeowners is that solar energy can significantly increase the value of their property. Studies have found that homes with solar panels sell for an average of up to 4.1% more than comparable homes without solar panels. With solar energy, homeowners can save money on their electricity bills, which further increases the value of their homes.

Real estate experts have also noted that homes with solar panels may sell faster and attract higher bids because buyers are becoming more conscious of sustainability and are drawn to properties that embrace clean energy sources. These financial benefits are one of the many reasons why more and more individuals are investing in solar power today.

4. A Cleaner Environment and a More Sustainable Future

This means a reduced carbon footprint, a cleaner environment, and a more sustainable future. Solar power produces no emissions and continues to produce energy even when the sun is not shining, making it an ideal long-term investment. Moreover, solar power systems require little maintenance and can last up to 25 years or more.

Finally, some local and federal incentives are available to help offset the initial costs, making investing in solar panels a great financial decision. By reducing reliance on fossil fuels and contributing to a cleaner environment, investing in solar panels is certainly a wise choice for a more sustainable future.

By investing in solar panels, we protect clean air and create a cleaner environment while preparing ourselves for a more sustainable future. Solar energy is a renewable energy source that increases energy independence while providing economic benefits to businesses, homeowners, governments, and taxpayers.

Switch to Solar Panels Now

Investing in solar panels is a sound financial decision with considerable short-term and long-term benefits. Solar can reduce or even eliminate electric bills, and it increases property values and provides additional potential income.

With all that solar has to offer, it’s clear that investing in solar panels is a wise financial decision. Leap and get in touch with a local solar provider today to learn how solar can work for you.

Need more advice on managing your finances? Check back to our blog frequently for more helpful tips and tricks.

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Cryptocurrency mining can be energy intensive.

Cryptocurrency mining is an energy-intensive process. The amount of electricity required to run a Bitcoin or Ethereum mining rig can be substantial, with the average person consuming around 1 kWh per day in their home. This means that cryptocurrencies have become a major contributor to carbon emissions, which are already having a serious impact on the environment and climate change.

Proof-of-work mining requires large amounts of electricity because it requires solving complex equations using computer power instead of simply guessing at them as in proof-of-stake systems (which we’ll talk about next). When you think about how much energy this takes up—and how much more efficient proof-of-stake systems would be—you can see why cryptocurrency miners would prefer Bitcoin over other coins: it uses the most efficient resource available today!

Excess energy from proof-of-work mining is released into the atmosphere as heat.

Proof-of-work mining uses a lot of energy, and it creates excess heat. This excess heat is released into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide.

Proof-of-work miners use expensive equipment that consumes large amounts of electricity; this is why there are often large power plants nearby with high emissions levels when they operate. In addition, proof-of-work miners generate waste heat from their computers as they run computationally heavy algorithms on blocks of data in order to find solutions for them (see Figure 1).

Proof-of-stake cryptocurrency mining does not release carbon dioxide.

Proof-of-stake uses a different algorithm, known as “proof-of-stake,” to proof-of-work. The main difference between these two processes is that in the case of proof-of-work, miners solve a puzzle based on SHA 256 hashing algorithm by solving mathematical problems and processing transactions. This process releases large amounts of energy because it requires strong computer hardware, which consumes more power than other methods available today. In contrast, proof staking works with fewer hardware requirements but still requires users to keep their wallets online at all times in order to participate in network validation processes (which require less computing power than traditional crypto currencies). This means that not only does it require less energy for this type of mining process but also less money spent on electricity bills since there aren’t any cooling systems needed!

A majority of cryptocurrency on the market today uses proof-of-work, but there is a growing number of currencies that use proof-of-stake.

Proof-of-work is the most popular method of mining cryptocurrency, but there are a growing number of currencies that use proof-of-stake. The idea behind proof-of-stake is that rather than using electricity to confirm transactions, they rely on trusted users with lots of coins. This means that if you are holding your own coin in your wallet and providing access to new coins for other people (known as staking), then you would earn interest by doing this instead of mining.

In order to understand how this works, let’s look at an example: If I had 100 bitcoins and wanted to stake them with someone else who also had 100 bitcoins (in this case, we would call these two parties referred to as “miners”) then both parties could issue additional blocks on top of each other – creating an infinite stream of “new” blocks which contain valid transactions between other users or merchants (like Amazon). Learn more the ekrona.

Conclusion

While cryptocurrency mining is not a widely accepted technology, it is important to understand how it affects our environment. With the growing adoption of proof-of-stake cryptocurrencies and their ability to produce less heat than other types of blockchains, we can expect this trend to continue.

The post An examination of the different cryptocurrency mining processes and their environmental impact appeared first on Fintech News.

Not to forget, a competitive edge over your rivals is not the only benefit of adopting an eco-conscious approach. As a business owner, it might be crucial to understand the various aspects of sustainability that can impact your business growth. 

If you are planning to adopt a sustainable approach, hiring a consultant could be a good starting step. Read on to learn how hiring an environmental consultant can significantly benefit your business. 

Planning A Sustainability Strategy:

The road to achieving sustainability goals starts with a concise and effective strategy. However, to create a long-term plan, you need to first understand your environmental impact. This entails measuring your operations for optimum performance, assessing your carbon footprint, and creating a blueprint of future implications. 

You’d also need to identify a course of plan that aligns with company objectives, resources, and values. Since environmental consultants specialize in this field, they can conduct the required research and analysis and develop a strategy best suited for your business growth. 

Compliance With Regulations:

Several legislations now require businesses to disclose their environmental impact and positioning in the market. In addition, there are international and domestic environmental laws, regulations, and policies that companies are mandated to follow. 

Environmental consultants can ensure your business actions and goals comply with regulations for a seamless business operation. They can also create effective compliance plans, train employees for compliant activities, and offer guidance to counter any environment-related work issues.  

Market Positioning:

Sustainability is no longer a geopolitical issue. Today, customers are making conscious choices to support businesses actively working towards sustainability. Just impact mitigations and compliance with regulations are not enough. For your business to grow, you also need to position your company with a favorable public image in the market. 

Several firms, like Soar environmental consulting, provide consultations specifically to aid businesses in taking constructive action toward addressing ecological concerns. Effective waste disposal, actions towards bio-resource, and considering geological resources in projects are all examples of informed actions. With company operations closely tied to sustainable action, you can considerably improve your market position.  

Safety and Health:

Environmental consultants can play an integral role in meeting employee safety and health standards. Especially if you work in an industry with higher employee health risks and considerations. 

For instance, if you work in the construction sector, you could unknowingly expose your employees to welding fumes or paint vapor. Similarly, a cleaning company would have to expose its employees to asbestos and other contaminants. 

An environmental consultant can draft adequate health and safety policies with the management. In addition, they can also ensure your workplace conditions and practices are employee safe and in compliance with labor laws. The same applies to creating workplace accident compensation policies and benefits. 

Going Green:

There is a fine line between an eco-conscious business and a sustainable business. Eco-conscious companies are those that incorporate environmental goals in their company objective to reduce carbon footprint and mitigate ecological damage. 

However, sustainable or “Green” businesses adopt an entirely environment-friendly approach in all aspects of their operation. If you are planning to transform into a green business, an environmental consultant’s guidance can make the process seamless and less expensive. 

Final Thoughts:

Maximizing profits is the primary goal of any business. However, strictly profit-oriented actions can have adverse implications for the environment. By hiring an environmental consultant, you can achieve business objectives and goals without harming the planet. 

The post 5 Ways An Environmental Consultant Can Benefit Your Business appeared first on Fintech News.

It’s a trend that’s set to increase as cities seek ways to solve the problems caused by an increasing population. Using Information and Communication Technologies, cities and urban areas can provide greener, cleaner, and more efficient places to live and work across Europe and the rest of the world.

Here are some of the European Smart Cities leading the way.

Barcelona, Spain—Smarter Urban Planning

Barcelona was recently named best foreign smart city by the World Smart City Expo Korea. The Catalan capital has long been considered one of the most pioneering smart cities globally, adopting new technologies to improve energy efficiency and sustainability.

One of Barcelona’s smart city projects is Sentilo, a network of sensors throughout the city that measures traffic and bicycle flow, noise pollution, temperature, and air quality in the different neighborhoods.

Another example is the recently implemented superblock system. This has created mini neighborhoods with reduced traffic and more leisure and green spaces for residents. Using innovative solutions to improve the quality of life in the city.

Barcelona will host the Smart City Expo World Congress from 15 to 17 November 2022. Leaders from the world’s most innovative companies and organizations, plus governments will take part to share ideas for future-proofing our cities.

If you’d like to attend, you’ll need to register online. Also, check the entry requirements for Spain well in advance as it’s one of the European countries that still has some COVID-19 restrictions in place. If you are from a visa-exempt country for the Schengen Area you can travel to Spain without applying for a visa. Also, given that the ETIAS for Spain is not yet operational, you don’t need a travel authorization yet either.

There is a Digital Program too if you can’t attend in person with expert interviews and live connections.

Zurich, Switzerland — Ambitious Smart City Strategy

For Zurich in Switzerland, a Smart City  is one that ‘connects people, organizations or infrastructures’ to add economic, social, or ecological values.

Zurich’s Smart City strategy lays out its clearly defined goals when it comes to digital transformation. Using Smart City technology, Zurich aims to promote equal opportunities and improve the quality of life for everyone—that includes visitors to the city. The environment is another major focus. Zurich’s Smart City strategy helps to conserve resources and support sustainable development. By positioning itself as a leading Smart City, Zurich also attracts businesses and entrepreneurs looking to innovate.

Central to achieving these aims is the Long Range Wide Area Network (LoRaWN), an Internet of Things Solution. Using LoRaWN, data can be collected in a cost-effective way and used to improve air quality, water management, and Smart Parking.

Zurich has positioned itself as a leading European Smart City thanks to its innovative approaches to digital transformation and ambitious Smart City strategy.

Paris — Post-Pandemic Digitalization

The French capital has learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and turned its attention to Smart City solutions. The Smart City plans focus on areas including transportation, urban planning, and the environment, among others.

A Smart Transportation Plan is being implemented to create a more efficient transportation system, reduce emissions, and improve health and safety. People are at the center of the Paris Smart City planning. The government is focussing on creating greener and safer transport for all its residents.

Another key concern is the climate and environment. Paris aims to be a carbon-neutral city by 2050 and is using Smart City solutions to work towards this. Paris is implementing energy-efficient services such as smart street lighting, increasing the energy efficiency of new and existing buildings, and working to reduce the carbon footprint of its industries.

Other aspects of Parisian life that will be improved by Smart City solutions in the coming years include water management, health services, and shopping.

Helsinki — Offering Mobility as a Service

Finland shows how technology can be used to improve life in the city and the country. The Helsinki-Uusimaa smart region benefits from cutting-edge research and innovation.

Many case studies across the region demonstrate the commitment to improving efficiency and sustainability. One example is that of Porvoo Central School which has installed a heating system  that utilizes waste heat. There is also an intelligent heating and control system. Sensors measure indoor temperature, CO₂ levels, and heat produced by humans to adjust heating and ventilation.

Helsinki is a global leader when it comes to smart mobility. Helsinki offers mobility-as-a-service. Using the ‘Whim’ application, residents can find out how to get from A to B by a combination of cars, taxis, bikes, and buses… this way traffic can be kept to a minimum and promote a more streamlined journey.

The post European Smart Cities Leading the Way appeared first on Fintech News.

Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is

One of the ways that people can make money while living a greener lifestyle is by supporting companies that don’t fund the oil industry or other non-green companies. As an example, most credit cards or debit cards help fund fossil fuel industries.

Using a card like Aspiration’s eco-friendly debit card is a great alternative. Not only will your money be used toward greener initiatives, you’ll also earn rewards and interest on the money you keep in your account. Additionally, when you spend your money at certain eco-friendly businesses, you’ll get a portion of your purchases as cash back.

Invest in Green Technologies

Technologies that improve the environment are worth your investment. If you have money that you want to see grow and also build a better future, put your dollars into green technologies and companies. Whether it’s technology that improves yields on food with less harmful pesticides and herbicides, or a technology that creates green energy, putting your money into these investments will eventually make you more money. Think about those who invested early in innovative companies like Tesla – they are now making a lot more money by going green.

Sell Your Garden Produce

A small way to go green in your own community is to plant an organic garden and sell the excess. You’ll make money doing something you enjoy, bring fresh food into people’s homes, and help keep the farm-to-table movement alive. Not only is local food better for your health, it’s also better for the environment because you don’t need to transport it from far away. Growing your own garden in the summer months can provide you with extra money just by going green.

Start a Toxin-Free Spa

The business ideas are endless when it comes to going green. Using toxin-free and organic products in your spa can create a wonderful experience for the people who come to relax. Using biodegradable materials, shopping for supplies from other green suppliers, and even leveraging natural light can all be ways to go green in your spa business and make money doing it. Additionally, you could create a green and all-natural beauty product line that you can sell near and far.

Write About Eco-Friendly Topics

People love to read blogs, op-eds, and other content. Writing about eco-friendly topics is a great way to educate people about important issues while making money as a result. You can leverage your passion for going green to help people reduce the toxins in their homes, make better buying choices, and find ways to participate in the green movement themselves. Earning money by going green means you can share your experiences and expertise with the world.

Going green in your personal life is great. Taking your newfound zeal for sustainability, reducing toxins, and more can give you the opportunity to make money by going green. These are just a few of the ways you can do it. Can you think of more?

The post We’ve Unearthed How to Make Money by Going Green appeared first on Fintech News.

Ground-breaking technology developed to help countries most exposed to extreme weather events to become more climate resilient has been launched in Jamaica today by the global Coalition for Climate Resilient Investment (CCRI).

Jamaica is the first country to complete development of the Systemic Risk Assessment Tool (J-SRAT), designed by Oxford University in collaboration with the Jamaican Government and support from CCRI and the UK’s Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office. J-SRAT has been developed to help identify ‘hotspots’ across the country’s major infrastructure networks – such as energy, water and transport – most vulnerable to climate risk, ensuring the effective and efficient investment of public and private resources.

Jamaica’s population, infrastructure and economic assets are highly exposed to extreme weather, such as hurricanes, tropical storms and flooding events that are expected to become more intense and frequent. With many of these climate hazards now irreversible, the country’s priority is to adapt by building the resilience of its major infrastructure assets.

Dr Wayne Henry, Director General of the Planning Institute of Jamaica, said: “Given Jamaica’s vulnerability to climate shocks, the cumulative cost over the years and future climate projections, JSRAT is an important data-driven addition to the analytical toolkit to aid assessment of climate risks, particularly with respect to critical infrastructure such as water, transport and energy.

“We anticipate that the combination of the analytical capabilities of this tool along with those of relevant local platforms and the transfer of knowledge to local technical personnel, should help to better guide our decision-making on future location and investment for infrastructure. JSRAT is a potential game-changer and we look forward to its utility as the country moves to not only modernise but also to retrofit and harden its infrastructure assets.”

The breakthrough predictive technology underpinning the tool is based on proven analytical methods developed by Oxford University. A global leader in the geospatial assessment of climate risks and infrastructure system resilience, the university has been one of the project’s lead technical delivery partners.

Dr Jim Hall, Professor of Climate and Environmental Risks, University of Oxford, said: “The fundamental goal is to help unlock investment in climate adaptation. With limited resources and mounting needs, the Government of Jamaica will be able to use SRAT’s incredibly granular, precise and practical analytical capabilities to prioritise where infrastructure investment is needed most and attract the scale of private sector finance that has so far been missing until now, not only in the Caribbean but in climate adaptation worldwide.”

Carlos Sanchez, Executive Director, Coalition for Climate Resilient Investment, said: “The climate crisis represents an existential threat to Jamaica, the wider Caribbean region and globally. As countries race to protect their communities from escalating climate impacts on water, health, energy and supply chains, making infrastructure assets more resilient is vital, but cannot be delivered by the public sector alone. Private sector engagement is critical in bridging the existing infrastructure gap, making this technology a major breakthrough not only for Jamaica, but also in helping to meet the world’s future infrastructure needs.”

The post New technology to transform how countries anticipate, prepare and adapt to intensifying climate conditions appeared first on Fintech News.

Cargill, Mitsubishi Corporation, BAR Technologies (BAR Tech) and Yara Marine Technologies (Yara Marine) are pleased to announce Mitsubishi Corporation’s Pyxis Ocean as the first vessel to undergo installation and deployment of BAR Tech’s pioneering wind propulsion technology WindWings, delivered by industrialization partner Yara Marine.

The installation, anticipated for deployment at the beginning of 2023, comes as the next step in a collaboration launched in 2019 between Cargill and MC Shipping Ltd. Singapore Branch – the shipping arm of the Mitsubishi Corporation – to increase energy saving and reduce emissions from international shipping. This first deployment with two WindWings significantly accelerates the partnership’s drive towards decarbonization.

The project, comprising a multitude of industry players across design, funding, provision, installation, chartering, and operation, exemplifies the kind of collaboration needed in the shipping industry to get the energy transition up to speed. Two WindWings will be delivered by Yara Marine Technologies and installed on the Pyxis Ocean¬, with one of those wings funded by the European Union as part of EU Horizon 2020 Project CHEK, dedicated to demonstrating solutions for decarbonizing international shipping.  All partners wish to thank the European Union for its vision in this important area.

At 5 years old the Pyxis Ocean, an 80,962DWT bulk carrier, keenly represents the challenges the energy transition poses to the global fleet. With vessels up to 9 years in age comprising 55% of the world’s bulk carrier fleet, and 51% of all ships on the water, the industry is in dire need of retrofit solutions capable of decarbonizing existing ships, alongside the research and development of future sources of clean fuel such as renewable gases and hydrogen.

“The pressure is on the ship owning and chartering community to take proactive and material action to tackle the immediate and uprising challenges towards the energy transition on its existing vessels, and fast,” said Takafumi Oka, General Manager, Ship Dept. of Mitsubishi Corporation.

“Our partnership with Cargill demonstrates the collaborative effort that is required to align strategic objectives among the stakeholders and ensure the global fleet can keep pace with evolving demands to reduce the environmental impact of our industry. It has been an exciting journey with multinational counterparties such as Cargill, BAR Tech, Yara Marine, DNV and an engineering company Cybermarine to overcome the challenges together and make this happen, and we hope to see many of such collaborations in our maritime industry to scale the solutions.”

“Collaboration across the maritime supply chain is critical for the effective deployment of emissions reduction solutions,” commented Jan Dieleman, president of Cargill’s Ocean Transportation division. “Cargill and MC Shipping are working together to bridge the gap between shipowner and charterer, with a desire to implement technologies that will benefit not just both parties, but the industry and the planet at large.”

John Cooper, CEO of BAR Technologies, added: “Cargill and MC Shipping’s WindWings installation demonstrates a step change in attitudes towards technologies as a means of enabling the energy transition for existing vessels. Reductions in fuel consumption via the exploitation of wind energy as a free fuel generates the two-fold benefits of lower fuel costs and lower emissions, propelling the global fleet affordably on its track to decarbonization. With projected reductions in average fuel consumption of up to 30% for a full-scale deployment, we anticipate that WindWings will significantly outperform its contemporaries in the wind propulsion arena.”

“The partnership with Cargill and MC Shipping, alongside funding from the European Union and WindWings’ receipt of AiP from DNV late last year, brings yet another vote of confidence to the solution and its benefits for the industry.”

“Windwings is a cutting-edge technology enabling the use of emission-free wind onboard of vessels. We are delighted to reach this major milestone in accelerating to the phase of delivering WindWings to vessels” says Thomas Koniordos, CEO of Yara Marine. “Cargill and MC Shipping are companies dedicated to making bold moves to decarbonize and we are thrilled to be collaborating with them on helping the shipping industry move a big step forward. The installation of two Windwings onboard Pyxis Ocean is significant being the first and will be the first of many”.

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MAPFRE Chairman and CEO, Antonio Huertas, “Economic decarbonisation is essential for the planet.”

MAPFRE has joined the Net-Zero Insurance Alliance (NZIA) with the objective of achieving greenhouse emission neutrality by 2050, that is, zero net emissions in its insurance and reinsurance underwriting portfolios. 

This commitment raises MAPFRE’s demand for sustainability, as it means that in coming years, it must reduce greenhouse gas emissions as far as possible throughout the organisation, and eliminate residual emissions that it has not been able to reduce through offset projects. 

In order to do so, MAPFRE must establish underwriting criteria so that it can have a significant impact in terms of emissions, as well as define decarbonisation commitments with more relevant customers, and promote agreements, products, and services that foster carbon footprint reduction, among other things.  

Being Net-Zero means that the Group is contributing to one of the goals of the Paris Agreement, which consists of limiting the rise in global temperature to 1.5ºC above preindustrial levels by 2100.

“Economic decarbonisation is essential for the planet,” pointed out Antonio Huertas, MAPFRE Chairman and CEO, who has indicated that “our environmental commitment is to continue raising the demand for sustainability firmly and progressively, accompanying society in a fair transition, and helping our customers and people who depend on their activity to also converge in this direction.” 

He also highlighted that “from our end, we care about improving the management of our environmental footprint, promoting the circular economy and, through underwriting and investment, supporting the fair transition toward a net-zero economy, prioritising people’s well-being.”

Ambitious Objectives  

The ambition to achieve net zero emissions in 2050 requires demanding short, medium, and long-term objectives. 

The insurance company’s Sustainability Plan 2022-2024 and Environmental Footprint Corporate Plan 2021-2030 include objectives that reflect the fact that the entity wants to play an active role in the “necessary and urgent transformation into a low-carbon economy.” In this regard, the company has committed to neutralising MAPFRE’s carbon footprint by 2024 in eight countries, and the challenge is to reduce the Group’s carbon footprint by 50% (compared to 2019) by 2030, and to neutralise the remaining carbon footprint for the Group as a whole. 

The post MAPFRE joins net-zero alliance to eliminate emissions by 2050 appeared first on Fintech News.

·         Be green or be gone: 45% cite lenders’ green credentials as ‘very important’ or ‘extremely important’ in their decision to borrow from them (despite rising cost of living).

·         Reward my sustainability: 56% would consider a sustainability-linked loan (interest rate is influenced by the borrower’s energy efficiency), 25% wanted to know more.

·         Flex my credit: 74% showed appetite for flexible credit that could fluctuate in repayment term and interest rate according to their changing circumstances (reflecting economic uncertainty).

Rising inflation, spikes in fuel prices and the growing cost of living crisis haven’t dampened UK borrowers’ climate conscience according to a new report on attitudes to unsecured lending from EQ Credit Services, (part of Equiniti), published today. Almost half (45%) of respondents classed lenders’ green credentials as either very or extremely important when deciding who to borrow from.

Of the 2000+ people surveyed, 56% would also be interested in a loan product that rewarded their efforts to live sustainably with a lower interest rate, should such a product become available.

“It’s amazing to see the British public prioritising sustainability in their finances despite all the pressures they’re feeling at the moment,” comments Will Ellis, Sales Director, EQ Credit Services. “Lenders now need to focus on evolving their green initiatives as quickly as they can; the market is insisting on it. Our data also reveals an appetite for credit products that are pegged to the borrower’s energy efficiency. This is a clear opportunity for an innovative lender to tap into this strong national sentiment.”

Growing wealth gap

The report goes on to reconfirm the widening wealth gap, exacerbated for some by loss of income over the pandemic. 49% confirmed they were more concerned about their finances since the pandemic began, with 18% saving less over the period.  In contrast, 51% said they were now less concerned about their finances, with 30% banking more of their earnings during lockdowns.

The call for flexible credit

74% of survey respondents said they’d be interested in an ‘elastic’ line of credit, that could flex in repayment term and interest rate should their financial circumstances change. This reflects the uncertainty felt by so many Brits, with interest in such a product increasing dramatically this year, up from 39% in 2020.

“Today’s borrowers have a multiplicity of needs which are being rapidly shaped by global events,” continues Ellis. “In today’s marketplace, lenders must be prepared to offer customized and flexible loan products that can both support customers and help them achieve their financial goals.”

The report’s findings strongly indicate that consumers increasingly expect their lender to understand their circumstances, know precisely where they are in their life and exactly what they want.

“Technology has a crucial role to play here,” adds Ellis. “Data available through open banking is deepening lenders’ understanding of their customers, whilst intuitive tech enables them to adjust interest rates and restructure payment plans based on real-time risk profiles. To deliver the level of personalization needed and expected by today’s consumers, these profiles must now be deeper and more sensitively compiled than ever before.”

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