The world’s first global index comprising companies that are responsive to climate change has been launched by KLD Research & Analytics, a B...

The world’s first global index comprising companies that are responsive to climate change has been launched by KLD Research & Analytics, a Boston-based research and index provider.

The KLD Global Climate 100 Index is designed to reflect growing demand from both individual and institutional investors for investment strategies that consider global warming.

This includes companies that provide short-term solutions to global warming while offsetting the long-term effects of climate change by using renewable energy, alternative fuels and clean technology.

Renewable energy includes solar power, wind and ocean tides and winds.

Alternative fuels comprise, among others, natural gas, landfill methane, hydrogen and other gaseous alternatives to coal and oil.

Clean technology describes technology that reduces or avoids emissions of greenhouse gases and other forms of pollution.

The index already includes some of the world’s largest companies and well-known brands in their respective sectors, such as Johnson & Johnson, British Telecom, Sharp, Toyota, BP, UPS and Honda.

“These companies alone won’t fix global warming, but the index focuses investors’ attention on where the possibilities lie,” said Peter Kinder, founder and president of KLD, in a statement.

He added: “Renewable and efficient technologies are presently growing their market share and the new index will be the benchmark for investors who seek both returns and global sustainability”.