Investment Articles

The United Nations recently achieved a new milestone in its innovative environmental policy by approving a New Delhi metro system for carbon credit issuance. The metro in the capital of India was first launched in 2002. According to the UN, during its nine-year run, it has contributed to the annual reduction of 630,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions in the city with 14 million residents.

The passenger rail system, which runs partly underground and party on elevated tracks, is one of the most successful public transportation projects carried out by the Indian government to date. It is estimated that, thanks to the metro, about 90,000 carbon-emitting vehicle trips are kept off the roads.

The rail system is able to achieve its emission reductions by employing an innovative regenerative braking technology, which cuts energy use by almost 30 per cent. Over the next seven years, the new UN carbon credit program will earn $9.5 million for the New Delhi metro. The initiative is part of the UN goal to encourage developing countries to invest funds in transportation networks, which help reduce greenhouse gas emission.

“No other Metro in the world could get the carbon credit because of the very stringent requirement to provide conclusive documentary proof of reduction in emissions,” according to the official statement issued by the UN. The international organisation further claims that each passenger, who, instead of jumping into their car or on the bus, chooses to hop on the metro, can help save about 100gm of carbon dioxide for every trip of 10km.

In addition to being environmentally friendly, subways have been the most commuter-friendly means for public transportation in metropolitan cities for years. In Tokyo, for example, more than 3.1 billion people use the metro system each year. In New York City, that number is over 1.6 billion, and in London, 1.1 billion take advantage of the convenient tube network annually. The more the passengers, who opt for the metro, the higher the amount of GHG emissions that are being prevented from entering into the atmosphere.

Typically running underground, metros are a time-saving alternative to buses and on-road rail cars, which, just like regular vehicles, often fall victims of grueling morning and after-work traffic. Underground rail systems, on the other hand, run independent of traffic jams caused by long waits at traffic lights and, in some cases, car accidents. Being underground, their operation is also relatively unaffected by severe weather conditions such as snowstorms and heavy rains, which can seriously impair above-ground traffic.

Metro systems are probably the most expensive transportation systems to build and maintain. As a result, many developing countries are falling behind in establishing solid underground rail infrastructure. According to Dr. Jean-Paul Rodrigue, professor at the Department of Economics and Geography at Hofstra University, only about 80 large urban agglomerations have built a subway system, and the majority of them are located in developed countries.

Recognising metro systems for their capacity to keep city environments clean and city roads less congested, and rewarding them accordingly, can benefit local economies and commuters alike. Financial incentives such as carbon credit issuance can make it possible for governments to build additional tracks and expand the underground infrastructure in places where such tracks wouldn’t be financially viable in the absence of a carbon credit incentive. It will also encourage innovation in the area of transportation, while cost effectiveness and energy efficiency climb up on the list of priorities.

But the responsibility should not fall exclusively on the international community to make financial incentives available. It is ultimately up to the metro systems to take responsibility in proving their effectiveness in GHG emission reductions, so that they can qualify for carbon credits. As the UN points out in their statement, only the New Delhi system has so far provided documented proof of its energy efficiency. Local governments have to establish verification entities, which monitor and report emission reductions by their metro systems. The process can take time and resources, but the benefits should potentially outweigh the expenditure.

Local governments and international bodies such as the UN need to show equal commitment in keeping the air clean from polluting vehicles while developing eco- and commuter-friendly public transit systems. Only then can global warming and its potentially catastrophic effects can be stopped in their tracks. For further details on carbon credit please visit http://www.carbon-investments.co.uk

If you are thinking of investing you are probably hoping, or even expecting to get high returns. The whole point to investing is to make a good deal of money and you want to get as much out of any investment as possible. Some people mistakenly think that to make a huge amount of money from investments you have to wait years, if not decades. However there are high return investments that can show huge returns in months or few years. As a general rule the more money you are willing to bring to the table, the more money you will get in return. Here are some high return investments:

Real Estate

This is definitely a high return investment and there are many options to choose from with real estate. You can choose to purchase a property at a low cost, do the house up and then sell it for a decent profit. This is an excellent way to make money, however it takes up a massive amount of personal time to do to a high standard. Alternatively you could opt to invest in rental properties, and reap the income they bring indefinitely. This is an excellent method if you have the money to buy numerous properties.

Corporate Bonds

Corporations issue corporate bonds in an attempt to gather money to expand a business. The maturity date associated with them is in excess of a year. Obviously there is a fair amount of risk associated with corporate bonds, as if the company fails, then so does your investment but this also means high return investments.

Municipal Bonds

These are bonds that are issued by a cities government. It is a high return investment because the interest gained does not get taxed. They are also free to trade.

Dividend-yielding Security

A Dividend-yielding security is a perfect high return investment. You invest funds in companies that have a lot of capital. This means down turns in the market will usually not have a huge effect on them. If you do decide to invest in long-term dividends you could make a massive profit on high yielding stocks.

There are other investment options that offer a good return. To decide which is most appropriate to your situation you will need to talk to a financial specialist. They will be able to explain the risks to you in more detail. Remember that long-term high return investments are great from the perspective of taxes.

If you manage to decide on the right high return investment you will have a secure future and a safe retirement. In the short term you can use the rewards gained from initial investments to make new ones. This could be the start of a new income for you.

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You may find out the same thing I did when you first approach private money investors: credibility is everything.

It was a few years into my investing career when I realized that I would need private money to get to the next level. A successful business man, a mentor of mine, told me that honesty and character is what most potential investors look for. At the time, I thought that just a deal and a nice rate of return were all I needed to have people throwing money at me. While these were indeed critical components, reputation and credibility were equally (if not more) important.

But, what exactly is credibility in this context? Does it mean having a lot of real estate deals under your belt? Does it mean 25 years of investing experience? What does it mean to have credibility with private investors?

It’s not as complicated as it may seem. First of all,

credibility begins with your reputation. If you have a good reputation (you do what you say, treat people with respect, etc.) then what you say to the investor will be taken seriously and they will consider your opportunity.

The importance of reputation cannot be overstated. Warren Buffett, one of the greatest investors (in any category) of all time has been quoted as saying (in reference to his employees):

“Lose money for my firm and I will be understanding. Lose one shred of reputation for my firm and I will be ruthless.”

This sums it up pretty well. If the world’s greatest investor thinks reputation is important, shouldn’t you?

In addition, when it comes to credibility, it is critical for you to approach investors with confidence and boldness. Think of it this way: if someone were asking you to invest funds in a real estate investment, wouldn’t you feel better if someone was confident and sure of themselves?

When you stammer, ‘hem and haw’ or otherwise lack confidence when talking to investors, they will be less inclined to view you as a good home for their investment dollars. Psychology is very important in money movement and people like to sleep well at night. The thought of a restless night sleep will be enough to turn the investor away from you.

Another factor in building credibility with private investors is having the right paperwork to support your proposal. Do you have a business plan? Do you have the proper disclosures and offering documents? Do the details of your project make good economic sense? If you don’t cover the bases in this area, you can expect less credibility in the eyes of the investor.

Don’t make the mistake of thinking that private investors are simply financial robots who only care about numbers and mortgages and collateral. That might be true if you were selling large commercial mortgage backed securities in big financial markets, but if you’re raising $3 million for your next real estate project, your investors are going to want to know about YOU. If you want access to private money – credibility is key.

Adam Davis is a real estate investor, author, speaker and founder of Ultimate Private Money. He teaches real estate investors how to raise capital from private investors. Adam has completed hundreds of real estate deals- from single family house flips, lease options to apartment buildings, land contracts and hard money loans – all with none of his own money. All told, he has raised millions of dollars from private individuals to finance real estate deals. For a FREE audio program on how to get private money go to: http://www.UltimatePrivateMoney.com.