Across the nation, the system that Congress created to protect the nation's waters under the Clean Water Act of 1972 today often fails to prevent pollution. The New York Times has compiled data on more than 200,000 facilities that have permits to discharge pollutants and collected responses from states regarding compliance.
The commodities crunch is corporate America's dirty little secret. Even as consumers open their wallets once again and sales volume improves, inflationary pressure is creeping in. It's hitting companies small and large. And even giant corporations with plenty of heft to negotiate the best possible rates from suppliers are feeling the pinch. Procter & Gamble's (PG) chief financial officer, Jon Moeller, told us on Squawk Box that the consumer-products giant saw a 160-basis-point impact from higher input costs late last year. For now, P&G has offset that rise with its productivity and cost-saving programs.
Not that investors have noticed: Thomson Reuters has analysts forecasting a 13.4% climb in corporate profits in 2011.) "Either the revenue picture will start increasing more rapidly over the next few quarters, and that will offset higher costs, or profits will get hit," says Ashwani Kaul, head of his own investment advisory firm. "Something has to give."
Not that investors have noticed: Thomson Reuters has analysts forecasting a 13.4% climb in corporate profits in 2011.) "Either the revenue picture will start increasing more rapidly over the next few quarters, and that will offset higher costs, or profits will get hit," says Ashwani Kaul, head of his own investment advisory firm. "Something has to give."
Rice, the staple food for half the world, rallied from a four-day losing streak as governments boosted stockpiles to curb prices that sparked protests across North Africa and the Middle East.
The grain represents almost 50 percent of food costs of the poorest across the developing world and 20 percent of total household spending, according to the International Rice Research Institute, based in Los Banos, the Philippines. In the U.S., 6 percent of incomes are spent on groceries, data from Euromonitor International show.
The grain represents almost 50 percent of food costs of the poorest across the developing world and 20 percent of total household spending, according to the International Rice Research Institute, based in Los Banos, the Philippines. In the U.S., 6 percent of incomes are spent on groceries, data from Euromonitor International show.
Governments need to overcome their suspicion of food companies to tackle record prices that are fueling global instability, Olam International Ltd. Chief Executive Officer Sunny Verghese said.
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Trillions in Global Investments at Risk Due to Climate Change: Study
2011 February 25
Investors could risk losing trillions of dollars due to the effects of climate change according to a new report on long term investments and portfolio risk. The report outlines the many possible factors related to climate change that pose a threat to the global economics.
The report describes the findings of a recent study conducted by Mercer, a consulting and investment services firm, which analysed the impact of climate change on strategic asset allocation of institutional investment portfolios. The report further recommends steps for investors to take in order to adjust to these impacts.
The report describes the findings of a recent study conducted by Mercer, a consulting and investment services firm, which analysed the impact of climate change on strategic asset allocation of institutional investment portfolios. The report further recommends steps for investors to take in order to adjust to these impacts.
Tens of thousands of people marched through India's capital, New Dehli, Wednesday to protest rising food costs.
India has been struggling with rising food inflation, which hit nearly 20 percent late last year. The country's poor have been especially affected.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said inflation poses a serious threat to the India's economic growth. He has called for an increase in food production.
India has been struggling with rising food inflation, which hit nearly 20 percent late last year. The country's poor have been especially affected.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said inflation poses a serious threat to the India's economic growth. He has called for an increase in food production.
After 50 Years, Nuclear Power is Still Not Viable without Subsidies
2011 February 24
The nuclear power industry has been dependent on government subsidies for 50 years and still the industry is still not economically viable, according to a report released today by UCS.
The government of Sabah has killed a plan to build a controversial coal-fired plant in the tourism-driven eco-paradise on Malaysia's Borneo -- a big victory for environmental activists in the state
That's not the cutting-edge renewable-energy portfolio environmentalists consider ideal, but it's certainly cleaner than coal. And because the state's vast clean-energy potential is still largely undeveloped, it's the most immediate practical solution to the growing local power needs. Officials anticipate a 7.7% annual increase in demand through 2020.
That's not the cutting-edge renewable-energy portfolio environmentalists consider ideal, but it's certainly cleaner than coal. And because the state's vast clean-energy potential is still largely undeveloped, it's the most immediate practical solution to the growing local power needs. Officials anticipate a 7.7% annual increase in demand through 2020.
Rising Food Prices and Global Unrest | Nightly Business Report | PBS
2011 February 23
SUSIE GHARIB: We told you about rising oil prices earlier in the program. But they're not the only global concern. Food prices are also near record levels and that means hunger and the risk of unrest are rising in many countries. For some perspective on this crisis, our Washington bureau chief Darren Gersh spoke with World Bank's managing director, Ngozi Okonjo- Iweala.
"..It's an unsustainable world because of the way we produce and consume energy. As far as I know, in the last election, we elected an enormous number of people who don't believe in climate change. They just say that in spite of the evidence, it's just not a problem. But thankfully, we appear to be the only country on Earth willing to give a congressional majority to people who deny it, so most people still think it's a problem.