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”
May 12, 2022
Serbia 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.
The state of youth engagement in the implementation of the EU Just Transition Mechanism
May 6, 2022
This report provides an overview of the political youth engagement activities for the development of Territorial Just Transition Plans of twelve EU Member States.
EU ETS 101 A beginner’s guide to the EU’s Emissions Trading System
April 27, 2022
The guide is a product of the Life ETX project, led by Carbon Market Watch, and has received funding from the LIFE programme of the European Union.
How can the EIB and the EU financial mechanisms support the decarbonisation of district heating?: Exemplary cases in central and eastern Europe
April 27, 2022
The heating and cooling sector accounts for half of the EU’s energy consumption, and both district heating and individual heating are still dominated by fossil fuels and inefficiently burned biomass. According to Eurostat data, only 22 per cent of heating and cooling is generated from renewable energy. Decarbonisation of this sector, through increasing its efficiency and use of renewable energy sources, is key to the success of the EU’s climate neutrality strategy.
Energy crunch or climate crisis, for CEE policymakers fossil gas is king
April 15, 2022
Amid the possibility of disruptions to Russian fossil gas supply to the EU, CEE governments appear short-sighted on both energy transition and energy security.
North Macedonia’s Go-Slow on Greener Energy is Costing Lives
April 6, 2022
The REK Bitola mining and energy complex in North Macedonia is one of Europe’s most lethal polluters – but, despite local protests, and clear evidence of its harm, the authorities have yet to act.
Air pollution and associated health impacts in Novaci, North Macedonia
April 6, 2022
For the last forty years, the municipality of Novaci has been home to North Macedonia’s REK Bitola complex, which consists of a 675 MW lignite power plant, open-cast mines and ash disposal sites. Its inhabitants have been breathing pollution emitted at
The EU must promote sustainable energy – not gas dependence – in the Western Balkans
April 5, 2022
This joint letter to President von der Leyen by 36 civil society organisations working in the region therefore asks the European Commission to stop promoting fossil gas and instead to pay attention to much-needed but currently neglected initiatives on energy efficiency and sustainable forms of renewable energy.
Activists call on EU to stop promoting fossil gas dependence in the Western Balkans
April 5, 2022
36 civil society organisations have today sent a joint letter to the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, calling on the EU to stop promoting the use of fossil gas in the Western Balkans.
Bulgaria’s energy transition without Russian fossil gas and new nuclear capacity
April 4, 2022
It’s never been clearer that Bulgaria’s dependence on Russian energy needs to be cut right now.
