Fossil fuels are fast losing their social license. It is becoming increasingly evident that countries’ continued reliance on dirty hydrocarbons escalates the climate crisis, worsens air pollution and enables war.
Long touted as a ‘bridge fuel,’ fossil gas now needs to be recognised by policymakers for the hurdle to the energy transition that it is, and multilateral development banks should urgently end support for gas projects and gas-dependent companies.
The energy transition has to be just and fast, with citizens, municipalities and workers as critical participants in the process. We are working to ensure no more public money is spent on coal, and public finance is used to accelerate this transition.
Stay informed
We provide updates in English from the Balkans and other coal regions.
IN FOCUS
Fossil gas
Fossil gas is the new coal. Although often labelled ‘natural,’ fossil gas is a major driver of the climate crisis. There is no more room for new investments in fossil gas projects if we are to avert the worst impacts of the climate crisis and set a path towards decarbonisation.
District heating
District heating and individual heating are still dominated by fossil fuels and inefficient burning of wood without regard to sustainability criteria, in combination with a low degree of energy efficiency. This has to change, since heating plays a crucial role in the transition into a clean and zero-carbon economy.
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.
Documentary: Turning the Tide
Our documentary exposes, for the first time, the extent of financial support four of the world’s leading multilateral development banks (MDBs) – the World Bank, the European Investment Bank, the Asian Development Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development – have been providing to the global fossil fuels industry over the past 13 years.
Our analysis shows that since 2008, the oil, coal and gas business has been enjoying no less than EUR 81.5 billion in support from these government-owned financial institutions in the form of loans, grants, credit lines and guarantees.
Coal projects
Ugljevik power plant, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Commissioned in 1985, the 300 MW coal power plant in Ugljevik, Bosnia and Herzegovina, has become famous for emitting more sulphur dioxide than all of Germany’s coal power plants in 2019.
Pljevlja I power plant, Montenegro
The existing 225 MW Pljevlja thermal power plant in the north of Montenegro, near the borders with Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina, has been operating since 1982. The plant was originally planned to comprise two units but the second one was never built. The plant, along with the extensive use of coal and wood for heating, has caused unbearably bad air quality in the town.
Kostolac B power plant (B1, B2), Serbia
The Kostolac B power plant, consisting of 2 units of 350 MW each, first entered into operation in 1987. In 2020, the plant delivered 4,571 GWh of electricity to the grid, nearly 18 per cent of the country’s coal-based generation. Kostolac B also released 95,097 tonnes of SO2 in 2020, which was enough to breach the national – not plant level – 2020 ceiling for this pollutant by 1.74 times.
Latest news
Moving Western Balkan district heating systems away from fossil fuels
Press release | 21 November, 2022With winter fast approaching, the need for efficient, clean and affordable district heating in communities throughout the Western Balkans is pressing.
Read moreSustainable district heating gives hope to the Romanian city of Motru, in a coal mining region
Blog entry | 18 November, 2022A new study shows that the city’s district heating can come from fully renewable sources.
Read more‘Money talk op COP27: van overheden tot banken, de strijd om geldstromen te verleggen, woedt volop’
Bankwatch in the media | 9 November, 2022Yelter Bollen van Bond Beter Leefmilieu (BBL) staat stil bij de meest gespannen gesprekken op de klimaattop in Egypte, die over geld voor …
Read moreRelated publications
Position paper: Kosovo’s National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP)
Position paper | 31 May, 2022 | Download PDFThis position paper aims to provide recommendations for Kosovo’s National Energy and Climate Plan, which is currently being developed, from an environmental sustainability and public inclusion standpoint.
District heating case studies
Case studies | 17 May, 2022 |Three case studies on district heating in Dronninglund, Denmark; Marstal, Denmark; and Vienna, Austria provide innovative solutions to successfully decarbonise district heating. These can inspire similar action in other locations across central and eastern Europe.
Comments to (the Romanian language version of) the Spatial Plan of the Republic of Serbia 2021-2035 and to the “Developers’ position on the comments of the neighbouring states”
Policy comments | 12 May, 2022 | Download PDFSerbia consulted its neighbour, Romania, about the transboundary environmental impact of its national Spatial Plan, supposed to cover the period between 2021 (!) and 2035. This time, with the text of the Spatial Plan in the language of the potentially affected public, i.e. Romanian, as required by the Espoo Convention. Bankwatch Romania submitted written input, highlighting, among others, that the so-called “gradual decarbonisation” mentioned in the Spatial Plan consists in reality of only 2GW additional installed capacity in wind electricity but of 4GW in new lignite and fossil gas capacity. Bankwatch Romania called for a revision of the Plan, which would account for a genuine decarbonisation in line with the Green Agenda goals, which means abandoning new lignite infrastructure plans.
