With only a few weeks to go now until final crucial decisions are taken that will determine Hungary’s EU spending plans for the next seven years, Bankwatch’s Hungarian member group MTVSZ decided last week that it was about time the Hungarian government got its house in order when it comes to beneficial EU allocations for cutting domestic energy bills, stimulating the Hungarian economy and fighting climate change.
Ukrainian nuclear sector in defiance and in financial trouble
December 4, 2013 | Read more
On November 28, the state nuclear regulator of Ukraine (SNRIU) allowed the continued operation of unit 1 of the South Ukrainian nuclear power plant (SUNPP-1) until December 2, 2023 – 10 years beyond its technically designed lifetime. The decision not only constitutes a breach of national regulation, but also disregards an unresolved case of non-compliance with the UN Espoo Convention. All this while Energoatom is in an increasingly tight financial situation.
Is the EBRD deliberately dragging its feet on publishing investigation reports on large hydropower plants in Georgia, Macedonia and Croatia?
EBRD soldiering on in Egypt
November 25, 2013 | Read more
Adding to the ongoing febrile atmosphere in the country, Egypt’s military-backed authorities just yesterday passed a controversial new law that imposes draconian restrictions on public protest. Meanwhile, in recent weeks the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development has reconfirmed its intention to remain active in the country – despite a number of serious doubts still hanging over its potential impact.
United in spirit with yesterday’s blog post on the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development’s coal lending, Visar Azemi from the Kosovo Civil Society Consortium for Sustainable Development calls on the UK government to not support the Kosova e Re lignite power plant via the World Bank and make its promise to end overseas coal financing a reality.
Bankwatch joins NGO boycott of COP19
November 21, 2013 | Read more
Today, Bankwatch joined other organisations walking out of Warsaw Climate Conference. Under the Polish government’s leadership the talks have utterly failed to address the urgency of the situation. Targets have been unambitious, the interests of the fossil fuel industry have been allowed to dominate the discussions, and there is no new financing on the table for climate mitigation and adaptation. This conference has lost credibility in the fight against climate change.
