Exxon is arguing that the $2.5 billion it owes for punitive damages for an oil spill in 1989 is excessive. Eleven million gallons of oil were spilled in Alaska's Prince William Sound when a tanker ran into a reef. A jury in 1994 awarded $5 billion in damages but that has since been cut in half by a federal appeals court.

The company argues that it should not be held responsible for the actions of the ship captain who violated clear company rules when the tanker ran aground carrying 53 million gallons of crude oil.

Read the full article at Associated Press

Car companies have the power to reduce future emissions by influencing consumer behaviour and introducing vehicles that run on electricity and alternative fuels. Despite growing numbers of drivers world wide, emissions could still drop if automakers follow initiatives towards sustainability.

Lawrence D. Burns, vice president of research and development and strategic planning at G.M. is hoping to lead the charge as the most visible executive at the American auto companies on green issues.

Read the full article at the New York Times

Tata Motors, one of Asia's leading automakers plans to launch the "World's Cheapest Car" in 2008 to target the growing middle class in India. The sticker price of the car will be $2500, half that of the cheapest new car available in India today.

 The move may bring India closer to a Western pattern of car usage, a pattern that environmentalists hope to avoid. One alternative in the works is Bus Rapid Transit, a rail type transport with more flexibility in routes.

Read the full article at Worldwatch Institute

An innovative new range of reusable shopping bags has been helping to eliminate plastic in England. The Gecco Bag, a cotton bag the size of three plastic bags clips to the side of a supermarket cart. The launch comes at a time when London is considering a tax or even a complete ban on the use of plastic shopping bags.

The bag not only eliminates plastic but reduces checkout time by 20%, helping to reduce shopper stress. It is available in a number of different models, including bags with built in cooler sections or bottle holders.

Read the full article at ENN

Green buildings are more expensive to construct than traditional office blocks but developers are starting to see the potential for long term revenue that a proper green building can deliver. Rents to corporate tenants can be higher, and renewable energy sources can create surplus energy that can be sold back to the grid.

A green office building dubbed 'Energy Plus' in Paris will cost 25% more to construct but is expected to create a new revenue stream by selling 500,000 Euros a year back to the energy grid. The surplus energy will be produced by its solar panels and wind turbines.

Read the full article at International Herald Tribune

Aligning your company with a charity or cause can deliver a clear return on investment in the form of enhanced customer relations and improved sales, according to a major new survey from Barkley PR released this week.

The US survey of more than 350 consumers and communications professionals found that 72 per cent of consumers had purchased a product because it supported a cause they believed in, while nine out of 10 said it was important for firms to support causes and charities.

 Read the full article at Business Green