The economic viability of coal is ever decreasing. Without public financial support many coal investments are doomed to fail. Yet several institutions are still willing to finance an energy source that wrecks our climate, damages our health and wastes our money.
To help bring about a world beyond coal, we investigate and promote a socially responsible transition while exposing the economic, legal, social and environmental risks of coal power.
Stay informed
We provide updates in English from the Balkans and other coal regions.
IN FOCUS
Just transition
No one should be left behind when we reconstruct our world into one driven by clean energy. Working on just transition brings all actors who believe in fair regional redevelopment to the same table: unions, industry, public administration, governments, civil society and others sharing this goal.
Coal projects
Just transition
Working on just transition brings all actors who believe in fair regional redevelopment to the same table: unions, industry, public administration, governments, civil society and others sharing this goal. They should be working together to find what is best for their regions and communities, from creating good quality jobs to identifying sustainable alternatives.
Rovinari unit 7, Romania
The Romanian Government has been negotiating for several years with the Chinese Government to build a new 600 MW unit at the lignite power plant in Rovinari, Gorj County. The new unit would be built on the site of Units 1 and 2, currently decommissioned. A new up and running plant would pollute the whole region for at least 40 more years, a coal plant’s average lifespan.
Gacko II, Bosnia and Herzegovina
State-owned utility Elektroprivreda Republike Srpske, together with China Machinery and Engineering Corporation (CMEC) and Emerging Markets Power Fund, plans to build a new 350 MW lignite power plant in Gacko, near the town’s existing plant, and in December 2017 a Memorandum of Understanding was signed to move the project forward.
Latest news
In the Balkans, virtual run reveals real problem of air pollution from coal power plants
Press release | 21 October, 202065 runners from 13 countries and three continents will race in Sunday’s inaugural Lung Run, a first-of-its-kind trail marathon that will measure air pollution from coal power plants in the Balkans and beyond.
Read moreVictory in Parliament: a green agenda placed at the heart of Europe’s recovery
Blog entry | 20 October, 2020The Environment Committee paves the way for a green and sustainable recovery by applying stricter criteria for all new investments in fossil fuels.
Read moreUkraine’s dangerous air pollution problem in desperate need of solutions
Blog entry | 19 October, 2020Ukraine’s air pollution problem is not receiving the attention it deserves, neither at the national nor at international levels. The authorities are dragging their feet on both monitoring air quality and emissions reductions measures, and the international community allows continuous delays and deadline extensions for Ukraine’s major polluters, which impact the air quality throughout Europe.
Read moreRelated publications
EBRD Fossil Fuel Investments Undermine Progress on the Green Economy Transition
Briefing | 3 June, 2020 | Download PDFThis briefing analyses the EBRD’s energy investments from 2010-2019.
CEE Bankwatch Network comments on the EBRD’s draft GET 2.0
Policy comments | 3 June, 2020 | Download PDFCEE Bankwatch Network comments on the EBRD’s draft of the Green Economy Transition 2.0
The Road Less Travelled: How the European Investment Bank’s Climate Roadmap 2021-2025 can lead it to become the climate bank
Study | 20 May, 2020 | Download PDFThis report summarises the EIB’s undertakings on the road towards becoming the EU’s Climate Bank. It presents our findings on the implementation of the EIB’s 2015 Climate Strategy and looks at the results of the Bank’s climate action in the EU and enlargement countries. It also puts forward recommendations to the Bank.
