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SOLVING THE CLIMATE CRISIS IS WITHIN REACH BUT A LACK OF FORTITUDE THREATENS TO STALL PROGRESS

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2 years ago

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GENERATION INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT’S 8TH ANNUAL SUSTAINABILITY TRENDS REPORT HIGHLIGHTS THE WEAKENING OF CLIMATE COMMITMENTS AND BREAKING OF PROMISES

LONDON and SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Generation Investment Management, the sustainable investment manager, today published its eighth Sustainability Trends Report, which annually seeks to answer the question of where the world stands in the transition to a low-emissions economy. This year’s assessment analyses how climate promises are starting to resemble New Year’s resolutions: easy to make, hard to keep. It also covers the shifts needed across the global economy – spanning the power sector; transportation; buildings; industry; people, land & food; and climate finance.

Al Gore, Chairman and Founding Partner of Generation Investment Management, said: “Year after year, the world has increased the number and types of solutions available to solve the climate crisis. But leaders across government and business have all too frequently failed to match ingenuity with action. Despite the hype, hope and harmony generated by the agreement at last year’s international climate negotiations to “transition away” from the fossil fuels that are the root cause of the climate crisis, the reality today is that way too little has improved at the pace and scale needed. It is imperative that investors, business leaders and government officials understand that even though the collective ability to solve the climate crisis is within our reach, a lack of courage, fortitude and determination at a global scale threatens to allow the progress that is so urgently needed to slip through our fingers.”

TRANSITION FROM FOSSIL FUELS – WRITTEN INTO INTERNATIONAL LAW AT LONG LAST 

The great achievement of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) held in Dubai in December 2023 was that transitioning away from fossil fuels is now a formal goal of the countries of the world, written into international law. The biggest climate promise ever made is finally on the table and humans have it within their grasp to effect change at the scale and pace required.

The language of the COP28 agreement is fairly weak, however, with calls rejected for using the term ‘phase out’ in relation to fossil fuels, and no detail about how to achieve the transition. But countries did agree to set new goals relating to the energy transition, agreeing to triple the world’s installed base of renewable electricity by 2030. The potential impact of this cannot be overstated because the grid system will become the key to the future, enabling the shift to what is effectively an ‘electrify everything’ approach.

BROKEN PROMISES, FRESH HOPES

Climate commitments have been dealt a blow in recent times. Political pressure and ‘woke capital’ attacks over the past two years have contributed to reductions of capital allocated to sustainable investing and nowhere is this more disappointing than amongst the financial-services industry which has pulled back from commitments made only a couple of years ago. Oil and gas companies have been pulling back on their commitments to invest in alternative energy while maintaining or increasing their fossil investments, deepening a credibility gap between their rhetoric about net zero and their actions.

Against this negative backdrop, there remains plenty of hope because it is possible that we are on the precipice of a different momentous change. Renewable electricity is growing rapidly now, so much so that emissions from power production are falling sharply in some countries. Moreover, electricity demand is starting to grow in many developed economies where it had been stagnant for a decade. This is mostly good news, for it means that the exhortation to ‘electrify everything’ is working. Focus then shifts to the significant grid upgrades required to harness the wave of low-cost solar and wind, the answer of which lies in urgent improvements to planning and reductions in red tape. To achieve this, a step change is required from one specific set of actors: governments. They hold the keys to make the policy changes to unleash the expansion of electrification, at least in the major economies of China, the US, the EU, Latin America and India. 

IS THE GEOPOLITICS OF CLIMATE TRANSITION BROKEN?

Important, large-scale change requires the determination and courage of groups of people to make things happen. But geopolitics also poses a significant threat to any kind of progress in the transition. China was the biggest investor in clean energy in 2024, is the largest producer of solar panels, electric cars, electric buses, and the most important manufacturer of advanced batteries. But China’s return to an aggressive form of authoritarianism under Xi Jinping has put it at loggerheads with many of its trading partners. China’s military adventurism, its threats to invade Taiwan, its theft of technology from other countries, its repression of the Uyghur ethnic group and many other factors are leading to something like a Cold War between China and the West – which could lead to the energy transition getting caught up in the crossfire.

Elsewhere in the world, observers will be closely watching the results of this year’s US election. The Inflation Reduction Act has created a positive framework for change but the wider signals in the US do not paint a wholly positive picture. The prospect of new tariffs, trade barriers, protectionism or tearing up international treaties altogether threatens to cast a large shadow over the world economy and its efforts to deliver on decarbonisation in this critical decade.

Accelerating trends outlined in the report include:

Power

Renewable electricity is now growing rapidly, with solar energy being the breakout star, with the installation of new panels up 74 percent in a single year. But power demand is starting to grow rapidly too: new data centres are gulping down electricity, and more cars and heat pumps are drawing power from the grid. It remains unclear when we will turn the corner and see electricity emissions finally begin to fall.

Transport

The transition to electric cars is hitting speed bumps in some markets, notably the United States, with carmakers like Ford scaling back their transition plans. But other countries are moving forward, especially China, where electric cars are now the economical choice and are taking half the new-car market. We have yet to see much progress in cutting emissions from planes, ships or lorries/trucks.

Buildings

The buildings sector is not remotely on track for the emissions cuts needed to meet global climate goals. The slow progress from tougher building codes in some countries is being swamped by breakneck urbanisation and weak or non-existent building codes in many countries. Heat pumps are a bright spot, their popularity rising in some parts of the world.

Industry

Progress is still halting in the industrial sector, but we are beginning to see movement. Plans were announced for new low-emissions steel plants using clean hydrogen, with the number of such factories on the drawing board rising from two to six. Green hydrogen is critical to the emissions-cutting plans of some other industries, and electrolyser additions in 2023 were more than quadruple 2022 additions. The world also needs to get control of plastic pollution – industry is responsible for the 34% of excess carbon dioxide entering the atmosphere, and plastic accounts for three percentage points of this.

People, land & food

The climate crisis seems to be contributing to high food prices that have driven the number of hungry people in the world up by 150 million in this decade. Global hunger worsened during the pandemic in 2020 and the problem has not abated. Far more work needs to be done by governments to secure the food supply in an overheating climate and to encourage the spread of better farming practices. The destruction of tropical forests has abated somewhat under a new government in Brazil, and Indonesia has had dramatic success in cutting deforestation through the actions of the central government, but the topic remains an urgent global problem.

Financing the transition

We have finally reached the point where nearly $2 is being spent on clean energy infrastructure for every $1 spent on fossil fuels, a ratio that was closer to 1-to-1 only five years ago. But clean investment needs to accelerate rapidly, to $4 trillion or $5 trillion a year by 2030, to meet the world’s climate goals. Big banks are still shovelling tens of billions into the development of new fossil fuels, despite their pledges to align their lending with the climate transition.

Looking ahead

A fundamental tension has developed in the energy transition: governments want to use it as a core element of their industrial policy, to create new jobs in domestic factories, even as they try to move rapidly to clean energy. The two goals are in conflict, given China’s nearly insurmountable head start in solar panels, electric cars, batteries and other green technologies. How this tension gets resolved will determine how fast the energy transition can proceed.

About Generation Investment Management

Generation Investment Management LLP is dedicated to long-term investing, integrated sustainability research and client alignment. It is an independent, private, owner-managed partnership established in 2004 and headquartered in London, with a US presence in San Francisco, with more than $44 billion of assets under management and supervision.1 For further information, please visit https://www.generationim.com/

1 Assets under management as at 30 June 2024 are $33.8 billion. Assets under supervision (AUS) are $10.5 billion as at 31 March 2024. AUS form part of our Private Equity strategy and include assets where Generation sourced, structured and/or negotiated the investment and in relation to which it provides certain ongoing advisory services for a fee.

Media Contact
Richard Campbell
Kekst CNC
richard.campbell@kekstcnc.com
+44 (0) 7775 784 933

 

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/solving-the-climate-crisis-is-within-reach-but-a-lack-of-fortitude-threatens-to-stall-progress-302250198.html

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Best Accounting Software for Medium-Sized Business UK (2026): QuickBooks Advanced Recognised as a Scalable Finance Platform for UK Mid-Market Businesses by Consumer365

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14 hours ago

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May 9, 2026

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NEW YORK, May 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — As demand for scalable financial tools grows, attention is shifting towards the best accounting software for medium-sized businesses in the UK in 2026, as organisations face increasingly complex accounting requirements. Consumer365 has recognised QuickBooks as a cloud-based platform supporting more structured financial management, reflecting a wider focus on improving automation, visibility, and compliance readiness.

Best Accounting Software for Medium-Sized Business UK

QuickBooks – developed as a cloud-based accounting platform, it enables medium-sized businesses to manage financial operations, automate core accounting processes, and maintain compliance with UK regulatory requirements.

Growing Demand for Scalable Financial Systems in the UK Mid-Market

Medium-sized businesses in the UK are operating in an environment where financial management is becoming increasingly complex. Growth introduces additional reporting layers, heightened regulatory expectations, and the need for consistent financial oversight across departments.

Traditional accounting methods are often no longer sufficient under these conditions. Spreadsheet-based systems and entry-level tools can struggle to deliver accurate, timely insights. This creates visibility gaps that can impact planning and decision-making.

QuickBooks has been identified within this context as a platform designed to support more structured financial management. Its positioning reflects a broader shift towards systems that centralise financial data and reduce fragmentation across business operations.

QuickBooks Positioned as a Scalable Financial Platform

QuickBooks operates as a cloud-based accounting system developed by Intuit. It is designed to support businesses that require more than basic bookkeeping functionality, focusing on helping organisations manage financial processes in a more connected and scalable way.

A key aspect of its design is the ability to consolidate financial information within a single system. This allows businesses to manage invoicing, expenses, reporting, and cash flow tracking without relying on multiple disconnected tools.

The platform is also structured to support growth. As businesses expand, financial operations often become more distributed across teams. QuickBooks enables multiple users to work within the same system while maintaining structured access controls, helping ensure consistency and oversight as complexity increases.

Financial Visibility, Automation, and Operational Control

One of the central functions of QuickBooks is improving financial visibility across business operations. Real-time data access allows organisations to monitor cash flow, expenses, and overall financial performance without waiting for end-of-period reporting cycles.

Automation plays a significant role in reducing manual workload. Financial processes such as invoicing, transaction categorisation, and expense tracking can be streamlined, reducing reliance on repetitive manual input and supporting more consistent financial records.

Operational control is reinforced through structured user permissions. Businesses can assign access levels based on roles, ensuring financial data is managed securely while still enabling collaboration across departments. This structure is particularly relevant for medium-sized organisations where multiple teams interact with financial systems.

Integration, Compliance, and System Connectivity

QuickBooks is designed to integrate with a range of business tools commonly used by UK organisations. These include payroll systems, customer relationship management platforms, and other operational software. This level of connectivity helps ensure that financial data remains consistent across systems.

Compliance is also a core part of the platform’s structure. UK businesses must meet specific regulatory requirements, including VAT reporting and Making Tax Digital standards. QuickBooks includes features that support these obligations within the system, reducing the need for manual compliance processes.

By aligning financial reporting with regulatory standards, the platform helps organisations maintain accurate records while reducing the administrative burden associated with tax and compliance requirements.

Operational Impact and Long-Term Financial Structure

As businesses grow, financial systems often become central to overall operational structure. Decisions related to hiring, investment, and expansion rely on access to accurate and timely financial data. Systems that lack integration or real-time visibility can slow decision-making and introduce inefficiencies.

QuickBooks supports a more structured approach by centralising financial information. This reduces fragmentation and helps ensure consistency across the organisation. It also supports continuity, minimising the need for frequent system changes as businesses scale.

The platform is designed to adapt to increasing complexity over time. As transaction volumes grow and reporting requirements expand, it remains stable while accommodating additional users and workflows.

This approach aligns with the needs of medium-sized businesses transitioning from smaller-scale operations to more advanced financial environments.

Market Context and Financial Management Trends

The recognition of QuickBooks reflects broader developments in financial technology adoption among UK medium-sized businesses. Organisations are increasingly prioritising systems that improve efficiency while reducing operational complexity.

Financial management is no longer limited to recordkeeping. It has become a core business function that influences strategic planning and overall performance. As a result, platforms that provide integrated financial oversight are becoming more relevant across a wide range of industries.

QuickBooks fits within this shift by offering a system that combines core accounting functionality with workflow automation and reporting capabilities. This supports businesses that require both day-to-day financial management and longer-term planning tools.

The emphasis on scalability also reflects changing expectations in the mid-market sector. Businesses are seeking platforms that can grow with them, rather than systems that need to be replaced as operational requirements evolve.

Conclusion

Consumer365 has recognised QuickBooks as a relevant financial platform for medium-sized businesses operating in the UK in 2026. The recognition highlights its focus on scalability, financial visibility, and structured operational control.

The platform is positioned to support organisations as they move beyond basic accounting systems and adopt more integrated financial management structures. Its emphasis on automation, compliance support, and system connectivity aligns with the operational needs of growing businesses.

As financial complexity continues to increase across the mid-market sector, tools that centralise financial data and support real-time decision-making are becoming more widely adopted. QuickBooks represents one of the platforms contributing to this shift towards more structured financial management approaches.

To read the full review, please visit the Consumer365 website.

About Intuit

Intuit is the global financial technology platform that powers prosperity for the people and communities we serve. With approximately 100 million customers worldwide using products such as TurboTax, Credit Karma, QuickBooks and Mailchimp, we believe that everyone should have the opportunity to prosper. We never stop working to find new, innovative ways to make that possible. Please visit us at Intuit.com and find us on social for the latest information about Intuit and our products and services.

About Consumer365.org: Consumer365 provides consumer news and industry insights. As an affiliate, Consumer365 may earn commissions from sales generated using links provided.

Disclaimer

Where AI content is used: This information is intended to outline our general product direction, but represents no obligation and should not be relied on in making a purchasing decision. Additional terms, conditions and fees may apply with certain features and functionality. Eligibility criteria may apply. Product offers, features, functionality are subject to change without notice.

General content disclaimer: This information is provided free of charge and is intended to be helpful to a wide range of businesses. Because of its general nature the information cannot be taken as comprehensive and they do not constitute and should never be used as a substitute for legal, accounting, tax or professional advice. Intuit cannot guarantee that the information applies to the individual circumstances of your business. Despite our best efforts it is possible that some information may be out of date.

Any reliance you place on information found on this site or linked to on other websites will be at your own risk. You should consider seeking the advice of independent advisers and should always check your decisions against your normal business methods and best practice in your field of business.

 

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/best-accounting-software-for-medium-sized-business-uk-2026-quickbooks-advanced-recognised-as-a-scalable-finance-platform-for-uk-mid-market-businesses-by-consumer365-302766759.html

SOURCE Consumer365.org

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BOE continues to launch new products and solutions in the field of high-end displays

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15 hours ago

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May 9, 2026

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LOS ANGELES, May 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — 

1、Redefine Visual Experience with Scientific Standards! BOE Releases Core Research Findings on OLED Display Clarity-Legibility Index, Paving the Way for the Industry’s First Transparent Pro Standard to Deliver Supreme Visual Experience

With the rapid popularization of OLED display technology, basic screen indicators including resolution, color gamut and brightness keep improving. Meanwhile, display transparency — a core experience metric that determines visual comfort , image authenticity and premium visual quality — has drawn growing attention across the industry.

Recently, BOE has empowered the launch of the industry’s first flagship high-transparency OLED display panel, setting an industry-leading benchmark in four key dimensions: color, depth , clarity and dynamic range. It ushers high-end display into a new era, shifting from purely numerical technical specifications to ultimate user-centric visual experience.

In addition, BOE officially unveiled its in-depth research achievements on OLED display transparency. It has identified the core underlying factors affecting visual transparency through scientific research, pioneered the industry’s first display transparency index formula, and facilitated the release of the first authoritative evaluation standard for OLED display transparency. This marks an industry’s transformation from specs-oriented to experience-driven development. This marks a full-process breakthrough covering underlying technical analysis, scientifically guided image quality development and mass production application.

At present, the group standard 《Standard of Associations Organic light emitting diode display —Evaluation method for display clarity》, led and formulated by BOE based on relevant research outcomes, has been officially issued. As the world’s first dedicated evaluation standard focusing on OLED display transparency, it fills the long-standing industry gap in correlating subjective visual perception with objective image quality parameters.

Leveraging this standard and transparency research results, BOE has assisted partners in developing the industry’s first flagship high-transparency OLED screen. The company has built a comprehensive technical system for OLED visual transparency. Supported by cutting-edge technologies such as tandem, LTPO and high-precision Demura crosstalk optimization algorithms, BOE and its partners have carried out full-link optimization from display panels to end devices.

Going forward, BOE will continue to deepen research on display human factors engineering and visual experience. Through technological innovation and standard leadership, it will bring more ultimate, high-transparency premium display experiences to users worldwide.

2、BOE Beneficial “Natural” Light Technology (BNL): Solving Visual Health Pain Points and Leading the Display Industry Trend

In an era of ubiquitous displays, users are spending increasingly longer hours on screens. Nevertheless, the luminous properties of conventional displays poorly align with the human visual system, sparking widespread consumer concerns over visual health. To address such challenges, BOE draws inspiration from natural light. By deeply analyzing natural light and extracting beneficial features highly consistent with health and comfort, BOE established the Beneficial “Natural” Light Technology (BNL) architecture. Evolving from single technical upgrades to a systematic solution, BNL replicates the merits of natural light across four core dimensions: Depolarization Adjustment, Spectrum Optimization, Light Profile Optimization and Time-varying Adaptation, advancing display technology toward healthy viewing.

BNL & Visual Health

Depolarization Adjustment: The linearly polarized light of traditional displays causes targeted stimulation to retinal lutein, resulting in dry eyes, eyelid redness and other discomforts. Based on the mainstream Circular Polarization (QWP) solution, BOE BNL has developed a series of technologies like BSF/RDF Random Depolarization technology and un-Polarization，which convert linearly polarized light into randomly polarized light, enabling balanced lutein utilization across the entire visual field, and deliver natural-light-level eye protection.

Spectrum Optimization: Conventional narrow-band RGB spectra feature poor continuity and imbalanced energy distribution, with excessive high-energy blue light that induces eye strain and increases risks of macular damage. Beyond Low Blue Light solutions, BOE BNL has developed Natural-like Spectrum, Beneficial Red Light, Infrared Light and Circadian Rhythm technologies. Multiple clinical studies have verified that Beneficial Red Light and Infrared Light can effectively inhibit axial elongation and accelerate eye microcirculation.  BOE takes the lead in integrating such optics into displays，achieving a spectral distribution matching degree of over 60%, an energy ratio of Beneficial Red Light (650–670 nm) exceeding 50%, and independent on/off switching and energy adjustment of Infrared Light. Meanwhile, Circadian Rhythm technology regulates melatonin secretion to safeguard sleep quality. Shifting from passive harm reduction to active eye benefits, BOE BNL delivers all-round visual health protection.

Light Profile Optimization: Conventional screens are prone to surface reflection and glare, which interfere with visual recognition and cause cumulative eye fatigue. Powered by industry-leading Anti-Glare, Low Reflection and Wide Viewing Angle technologies, BOE BNL accurately simulates the diffuse reflection of natural light to deliver consistent visual comfort across diverse viewing angles. For instance, BOE UB Cell technology achieves a DGR value below 5 with negligible glare and reflection, ensuring sustained visual comfort.

Time-varying Adaptation: Conventional displays tend to produce low-frequency flicker and fixed brightness and color temperature that fail to adapt to ambient changes, forcing frequent eye muscle adjustments and leading to discomfort. By adopting Flicker Free and Light Self-adaptive technologies, BOE BNL delivers stable, ultra-smooth visuals that replicate the comfort of natural light.

SID 2026: BOE Launches New BNL Display Products

At SID Display Week 2026, BOE launched new BNL health display products. The highlight product is the industry’s first 13.8-inch BNL health display tablet. It integrates all four core dimensions，supported by 7 core BNL technologies， to deliver a healthy and comfortable visual experience.

As a global leader in the display industry, BOE has led the development and officially issued the world’s first “Natural Light” display standard via the Zhongguancun Standardization Association，and has jointly issued the White Paper on Natural Light Display Technologies (Engineering Considerations, Application Value and Challenges) with TÜV Rheinland to drive standardized and high-quality industrial development. In the future, BOE will continue to iterate on technologies, diversify product forms and application scenarios, advance the grading standards for Beneficial “Natural” Light displays, and protect users’ visual health.

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SOURCE BOE Technology Group Co., Ltd.

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BitradeX BXC First Two Subscription Rounds Sell Out, Total Subscriptions Exceed 14M USDT

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18 hours ago

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May 9, 2026

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LONDON, May 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — BitradeX Capital’s ecosystem equity token, BXC, has completed its first and second subscription rounds, selling a total of 50 million BXC with subscriptions exceeding 14 million USDT. The first round sold out in 90 seconds, while the second closed within 48 hours.

While the fundraising size is not unusually large by crypto standards, the structure of the sale has attracted market attention. The first two rounds were not open to the public, but limited to high-tier BitradeX users. The first round was available only to V5 users and above, while the second round expanded access to V3 users and above.

According to BitradeX’s tier system, V3+ users typically have higher recurring investment activity through AiBot, longer platform usage history, and stronger ecosystem participation. This means the early BXC allocation was absorbed mainly by the platform’s internal high-value user base, rather than short-term speculative participants.

This approach differs from many token fundraising campaigns that prioritize broad public participation and market hype. BitradeX instead adopted a more selective, staged model, gradually lowering the participation threshold while keeping the sale within its active ecosystem community.

BXC is positioned as more than a standard platform token. Its value framework is linked to BitradeX Capital’s broader ecosystem, including its exchange business, AiBot quantitative strategies, BTX Card payments, and Labs incubation platform. Public information indicates that BXC holders may receive staking rewards, benefit from ecosystem buybacks and burns, and gain priority access to Launchpad projects and governance participation.

The third subscription round is launched on April 30 at $0.35 USDT per BXC, with a total supply of 100 million BXC. It is now open to users participating in AiBot recurring investment. The fourth round price is expected to rise to $0.45 USDT.

The long-term value of BXC will ultimately depend on the growth of BitradeX’s underlying businesses, including exchange profitability, AiBot user expansion, and BTX Card adoption. However, the rapid sellout of the first two rounds suggests that BitradeX’s core user base has already shown strong confidence in the ecosystem’s future.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/bitradex-bxc-first-two-subscription-rounds-sell-out-total-subscriptions-exceed-14m-usdt-302767467.html

SOURCE BitradeX Capital

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