New report – How Turkey’s coal boom threatens local economies on the Black Sea
Publication | 11 November, 2013With coal power expansion booming in Turkey, a new Bankwatch report based on a recent field trip finds that the environmental impacts of coal power plants are inadequately assessed, while Turkey’s viable, clean alternatives to coal are neither being analysed or discussed seriously by senior policy- and decision-makers.
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EU-backed western Balkans priority energy projects conflict with EU goals
Publication | 11 November, 2013A list of 35 regional priority energy projects selected on 24 October in Belgrade by the Energy Community’s Ministerial Council has been greeted with dismay by civil society groups from across the western Balkans.
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Turkey pushes dirty coal despite solar potential second only to Spain
Press release | 4 November, 2013Istanbul — Following a fact finding mission to the Turkish Black Sea Coast, Bankwatch and Greenpeace Mediterranean publish a paper outlining some of the controversial aspects surrounding Turkish coal power plant plans in the Black Sea region.
Read moreBlack Clouds Looming – How Turkey’s coal spree is threatening local economies on the Black Sea
Publication | 4 November, 2013Since 2009 Turkey has experienced a boom in the construction of coal-fired power plants in response to growing energy demand, increasing gas prices and its abundant coal reserves. Based on a field trip to the Black Sea, this report finds that while environmental impacts of coal power plants are only inadequately assessed, alternatives to coal are neither analysed nor discussed at the policy or project levels. National authorities show a disregard of public concerns and offer only limited access to information for the public.
Read moreEU-backed energy projects will harm people and the environment in the Western Balkans
Press release | 30 October, 2013Brussels – NGOs from across the region are expressing very serious concerns about the list of 35 priority energy projects approved by the European Commission-backed Energy Community meeting in Belgrade, Serbia, last Thursday. The decision to support projects that are in conflict with EU environment goals and climate goals has seriously dented the EU’s credibility as a positive force for the protection of the environment and people’s health in the Western Balkans, say the NGOs.
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How embarrassing: EBRD transparency ranked ‘poorest’ among multilaterals
Blog entry | 29 October, 2013As the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development revises its safeguard policies, the Aid Transparency Index ranks its commitment to openness and transparency as the weakest in comparison with similar institutions.
Read moreDirty power plants in Western Balkans and Ukraine set to become EU priority
Press release | 22 October, 2013Belgrade – Several environmentally damaging coal and hydropower projects across the Western Balkans, Ukraine and Moldova are likely to be included this Thursday on a priority list of projects of the European Commission-backed Energy Community, meaning they will be fast-tracked for financing over the next years.
Read moreWestern Balkans and Ukraine: EC-backed Energy Community to prioritise coal plants that threaten EU long-term climate targets
Publication | 22 October, 2013The Western Balkans countries are aspiring to become members of the European Union. On 24 October the Ministerial Council of the EC-backed Energy Community will approve a list of priority energy infrastructure projects resulting from the Regional Energy Strategy known as Projects of Energy Community Interest (PECIs) for the Western Balkans, Moldova and Ukraine. These projects would be prioritised for fast-track approval and public financing.
Read moreКомментарии Бенквоч к проекту энергетической политики ЕИБ
Publication | 17 October, 2013Европейский инвестиционный банк, собственный банк ЕС и один из крупнейших в мире кредиторов, подорвет глобальное лидерство ЕС в области борьбы с изменениями климата, если примет свою будущую энергетическую политику в том виде, в каком банк представил её вчера общественности. Проект политики включает стандарты для кредитования угольных электростанций, которые слабее, чем предлагаются в настоящее время в США и Канаде.
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Of horses and roads – protests in Ukraine highlight lack of safety
Blog entry | 11 September, 2013Demonstrations in Kiev have shown that road safety is not only for cars but also pedestrians and other traffic participants – a lesson that the Ukrainian road company still needs to learn and that the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development should be teaching more actively.
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