70% of companies with revenue of $ 1 billion or more plan to increase spending on initiatives related to climate change in the next two years, according to global study commissioned by Ernst & Young and said. Nearly half of 300 directors of companies surveyed said that their investments related to climate change will vary from 0.5% to over 5% of their revenues by 2012. 82% of respondents indicated that they plan to invest in energy efficiency over the next 12 months, while 92 percent believe that energy costs will be an important factor during this period. The heads of companies commit to taking action, although said that complying with different regulations in different countries will be a challenge. The fact that 70% of company bosses are planning to spend more for programs related to climate change is “one of the amazing discoveries, the study indicates Melanie Steiner of Ernst & Young. Despite regulatory uncertainty on climate change “companies really take action because they see that this is a business issue and opportunity to generate new revenue,” said Steiner. While action to tackle the consequences of climate change in the past been a question in the field of public relations today are able to make money through new services and products, savings through better efficiency and reducing the risk, she adds.
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The Russian economy grew in the first quarter of this year for the first time since 2008 thanks to the recovery of this industry and services, and improving labor market. On an annual basis for the first quarter GDP grew by 0.5 per cent since the fourth quarter of last year declined by 2.6 percent, data show the indicator for the economy of VTB Capital – the investment bank unit VTB. Only in March the Russian economy grew by 1.1 per cent growth from 0.5 percent in February, the index shows. Increased demand for raw materials and larger consumer spending helped the country to escape from its worst recession since the collapse of the Soviet Union. According to official statistics in the fourth quarter the economy shrank by 3.8 percent annually after a decline of 7.7 per cent in the third. For the year reported a decrease in GDP by 7.9 per cent. According to data from the state rail operator transporting goods by rail, which is considered indicative of changes in industrial production jumped by 12.7 per cent yoy in the first quarter. In February retail sales increased by 1.3 per cent annually, while unemployment fell to 8.6 per cent from 9.2 per cent. Capital investment and unemployment are “weak links” in the restoration, said last month, Deputy Economy Minister Andrei eyelid. VTB Capital indicator calculated on the basis of surveys of business conditions in manufacturing and services sectors.
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