Green Investments Report by Conserv-A-Store week ending 2/17/12

 Here’s your Green Investments Report by Conserv-A-Store for the week ending 2/17/12.

The US stock market is generally doing pretty well but we seem unable to turn a profit from our 1/3/2011 portfolio start date. The Winslow Green Growth Fund is showing the most promise of getting above break even for us

We are attempting to keep up with carbon trading in our investments report
Here’s a discussion from the FT on Europe’s attempts to enforce its carbon limits by cracking down on carbon usage by non European airlines that do commerce in the Eurozone.

“When the European Union decided last month to press ahead with a plan to force foreign airlines to pay for the carbon pollution generated by each flight landing at its airports, Brussels policymakers justified their action as the only way to forge a global solution to one of the fastest-growing sources of greenhouse gas emissions.”

A lot of this impetus is tied into the EU Carbon market,

“Upon its launch seven years ago, the market was supposed to work on a simple premise. Proponents hoped that by putting a price on carbon and forcing companies to pay for their emissions, it would prod Eon and others to pour money into green technologies and greater efficiency. But, as a result of a subsequent recession and poor management, the market is saturated – and could be for years to come – with permits that give companies the right to emit carbon without penalty. That has led to a prolonged slump in the carbon price. At roughly €7 per tonne, compared with a peak of nearly €30 in July 2008, it is a fraction of what policymakers and analysts had forecast it would have reached by now – and well below the levels necessary to justify the desired investments.”

There is upset in this trading system over whether or not a low price for carbon is a good thing or bad thing. If you have any interest at all in carbon trading and the cost of pollution we strongly suggest you read this entire article since it clearly lays out the pros and cons of the current system.

Here’s the entire article, “Emissions Trading: Cheap and Dirty”

We personally applaud the Europeans for trying which is better than many other first world countries to wrestle with the cost of pollution on their population.
Also China can act independent on this issue but they are aware they have a horrible pollution problem that needs to be addressed sooner than later so they are watching with a close eye.

Here’s your portfolio