Updates on the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development

Reality, climate change and global attention is catching up on the ‘sustainable energy’ bank (EBRD)

As part of the consultation on its energy sector strategy the EBRD next week hosts public meetings in Istanbul, Belgrade and Moscow to discuss with civil society from its countries of operation. While public pressure is increasing to end coal financing it is important to note that restrictions to carbon-intensive investments must be strictly and clearly defined in the strategy document if they are to improve the EBRD’s climate impact. An article from Bankwatch’s 2012 annual report (pdf) illustrates how a too flexible approach allows the EBRD to greenwash also very dirty investments.

Open letter asking EBRD to take consultation on lending policy review seriously

Given the seriousness of the upcoming consultation meeting on the EBRD’s energy lending policy in Belgrade (September 4) and the concern that this should be more than a pro forma exercise, a range of organisations are asking the EBRD in this letter to show genuine commitment to dialogue.

Groups petition Polish government to drop permit for Europe’s largest planned coal plant

On Monday Polish NGOs Client Earth, Workshop for all Beings, Greenpeace, WWF and local community group Eco-Kociewie petitioned the General Director of Environmental Protection to cancel the environmental impact assessment permit for the Polnoc Power Plant in northern Poland.

All eyes on the EBRD – will it go coal free?

In case you missed it, the tectonic plates just shifted in the world of international financial institution (IFI) energy lending.

The EIB finally limits coal lending

For the last couple of years, we have been calling on the European Investment Bank to drop coal lending. Finally, we’re starting to see some results.

Kyrgyzstan and the conflict over natural resources

Kyrgyzstan is a mountainous country rich in water and natural resources. The country is one of 2000 priority ecological regions of the planet with unique ecosystems and biodiversity and is considered the “water tower” of Central Asia due to its Tien Shan glacier reserves. The management of Kyrgyzstan’s natural resources is crucial to the future sustainability of the country. However in a region where poverty is widespread, the primacy placed on economic development seriously threats sustainability.

[Campaign update] EBRD not digging for truth at the Kolubara mine, Serbia

By putting too much trust in its client EPS, the EBRD failed to notice that an important grievance mechanism for villagers near the mine was not in place – for two years. [*]

Comments on the EBRD’s draft country strategy for Georgia

Policy briefing: New draft energy (read oil, gas and coal) strategy at the EBRD

The EBRD’s draft energy strategy doesn’t have a climate target. It recognizes the urgency of climate action and the fact that the energy sector is the largest greenhouse gas emitter and places energy efficiency and renewable energy at the core of the transition to low carbon economies. The low carbon transition appears to be a central theme of the draft strategy but when it comes to the fossil fuels sector, it only translates into a potential slight reduction in coal investments.

PPPs “poor in practice” admits new EBRD-financed study

Despite collecting impressive evidence from 20 years of failed public-private partnerships in central and eastern Europe, an EBRD-financed study by the Economist Intelligence Unit concludes to continue using the controversial financing scheme.