A financial index dedicated to tracking the value of environmental industries shows that Asian countries are cornering an increasing share of the global market.

The Impax ET50 publishes the top ten publicly listed environmental companies at the end of each quarter, along with an analysis of significant changes in the sector.

Over the past quarter, four of the seven new entrants making it onto the index are based in Asia while China alone accounts for 15% of the global photovoltaic market, around three times its share in 2000.

Wind and photovoltaics continue to dominate the environmental markets, with the eight largest companies all involved in one of the two.

Europe still makes a good showing, being base to six of the top ten companies.

Bruce Jenkyn-Jones, director of investments, Impax Asset Management said “The growth of China’s solar market has been catalyzed, in part, by a backdrop of strong policy support at the highest levels of government via the Renewable Energy Law, legislation which has spurred the development of renewable energy in China, including solar power.

“The centerpiece of the law is a mandate for reaching 10% market share of renewables within the domestic energy mix by 2020.”

Sam Bond

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