Comments on: Introducing the Reuters Global Green Portfolio

By: Robert Stillwell

Robert Stillwell — Fri, 01 May 2009 20:26:16 +0000

What I like about this new index is that it is international, which reflects modern trading and investment practices. A few tweaks here and there, based on the recommendations above, plus a few added small-cap companies (which would better represent the sector overall) and this could be a cited index.

By: Nichola Groom

Nichola Groom — Fri, 01 May 2009 19:19:32 +0000

Thanks all for your feedback. Just to give you some perspective on our thinking, we were trying to pull together not only a broad array of technologies, but also geographies with this list. Each of the solar companies represents a distinctive technology or market, and all of them are producing commercially. We will take the fuel cell suggestions into consideration.

By: Josh Hargreaves

Josh Hargreaves — Fri, 01 May 2009 17:49:53 +0000

Anna, thanks for your comment.
We actually still have the Environment section. It is located lower down on the Green Business page below the Reuters Global Green Portfolio.

By: Anna

Anna — Fri, 01 May 2009 17:07:03 +0000

I like that Reuters has a Green Business section. However, I’m extremely disappointed by the removal of the Environment section in the news. All the Green Business articles seem to focus on the business of going green, but I want news on environmental science and environmental technology developments. Your Environment section was a vital part of my reading and I keep looking for it on the left, like a sibling that’s just passed and I’m not used to the void yet. Please resurrect the Environment section! I understand putting the Business of going Green up in the Business section. Just please bring back the Environment.

Thanks & take care,
Anna (Portland,OR)

By: Evyline Maer

Evyline Maer — Fri, 01 May 2009 16:37:53 +0000

The above post is right. I count 6 solar companies on this relatively short list. No fuel cell or hydrogen. The index is a good idea, but I think they had a grad student in ‘popular accounting’ put together the list,rather than anyone with a technical background. You simply can not have a green index without a hydrogen or fuel cell component. That is a serious gap.

By: Reynold Collins

Reynold Collins — Fri, 01 May 2009 14:59:43 +0000

Ethanol? Green? Really? First of all, it’s a hydrocarbon fuel, so it still yields heavy CO2 upon combustion. Second, it takes more energy and resources to make ethanol from corn than you get back out of it (Tractor fuel, fertilizer and ag chemical production, processing, etc.). So you’re burning it all twice. That’s why it only works under heavy government subsidy. Measuring ethanol business performance tells investors nothing about green business or sustainable performance. Not related.

By: Jason Thomas

Jason Thomas — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 19:37:34 +0000

Why no fuel cell companies? Ballard Power would be an obvious necessity on any Green index. Solar is fine, but there will be no solar cars or buses. There are already fuel cell cars and buses. Love the new green index. But get some hydrogen in there. Thanks.

By: Tim Balazs

Tim Balazs — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 20:40:25 +0000

Kudo Reuters! You have been avante-garde for many years and your “Green Business” section is merely one more example!

Your proxy of companies is impressive but all with an industrial focus. ‘Green’ concerns are reflected in customer purchasing habits and these companies listed are removed from the individual expereince.

I am an Environmental Communications Officer and I help market ‘green’ concepts for daily use. Letting people know that they don’t have to join Greenpeace or install a wind farm in their backyard to be concerned about the environment – is an essential ‘grassroots’ approach. Little choices daily make a huge difference. Let’s say that you are a company selling re-usable coffee mugs – they make a huge difference by allowing each individual consumer the ability – daily – to save the planet – garbage, energy, and resources. The general public realizing that the power is in their hands – everyday – in nearly every action they take – a coffee, a bottle of water and turning out the lights – is just as effective, if not more than covering your roof with solar panels. Environmentalism has to be in the hands of the individual for it to become commonplace.

I am not criticizing just adding a valid point. Thank you for your efforts and keep up the good work.