Europe has ambitions to become a global leader in the fight against climate breakdown. Transforming the continent’s energy systems and shifting towards climate-friendly alternatives requires massive investments, especially in central and eastern Europe, where outdated infrastructure and a reliance on fossil fuels persists.
The good news is that the EU has the financial means to fund this transformation. The challenge is ensuring that the investments of today are geared towards addressing the climate crisis and Europe’s declining state of nature.
We know that when people have a voice in investment decisions, the results speak for themselves: more acceptance and ownership of spending and a greater chance that harmful and wasteful projects are avoided.
We work to ensure that EU financial flows address the climate crisis and do no harm to people and nature. We do this by involving the public in the design and spending of EU investments.
IN FOCUS
Just transition
Countries across central and eastern Europe are committing to quit coal and shale oil. Now the task is to ensure that the just transition is driven from the bottom up and leaves no one behind as we move towards a sustainable energy future.
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Building back biodiversity
Threats facing biodiversity are increasing alongside the drivers of the climate crisis. But investments in climate protection should not come at the expense of those that can help biodiversity. The two crises of climate and biodiversity are interconnected and both must be tackled together, because only by investing in nature can we tackle climate change.
![2022_03_biodiversity_campaign photo](https://bankwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/2022_03_biodiversity_campaign-photo.png)
RegENERate: Mobilising Regions for Energetic Re-development and Transformative NECPs
The overall objective of the project is to support the CEE countries’ contribution to the EU efforts towards a net-zero emissions future. The project will contribute to more ambitious and effective climate and energy policies in CEE, backed by a long-term commitment to phase out fossil fuels, improve energy efficiency and promote renewable energy.
![2021_RegENErate_project_cover_Konin_fot.MilenaAntonowicz Open-pit mine, Konin, Poland, picture: Milena Antonowicz](https://bankwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/2021_RegENErate_project_cover_Konin_fot.MilenaAntonowicz-2.png)
RePower the Regions: Ambitious and inclusive clean energy plans for repowering the just transition regions
The participation and leadership of carbon-intensive regions in transitioning to clean energy solutions are prerequisites for achieving EU climate neutrality by 2050. Building on this premise, RePower the Regions aims to ensure that the regions’ clean energy plans are aligned with EU 2030 climate goals and have strong support locally, and to provide practical guidelines and roadmaps on how to repower the regions.
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Latest news
Jak przeprowadzić prawdziwie sprawiedliwą transformację regionów węglowych?
Bankwatch in the media | 24 November, 2020Sprawiedliwa transformacja gospodarki ku bardziej zielonej jest jedną z najważniejszych rzeczy dla regionów górniczych w Polsce. Ale jej skuteczne przeprowadzenie zależeć będzie nie tylko od pieniędzy, ale też od ich efektywnego wydania. Mówili o tym uczestnicy zorganizowanego przez EURACTIV.pl, Komisję Europejską oraz Fundację Konrada Adenauera webinarium pt. „Sprawiedliwa transformacja regionów węglowych – Jak to zrobimy?”.
Read moreEU recovery cash must not go to gas, coal leaders urged ahead of summit
Bankwatch in the media | 16 November, 2020The Europe Beyond Coal coalition is urging coal region leaders to commit multibillion euro recovery sums to a clean energy transition – and to tell their governments that the EU should not divert the funds towards a fossil gas-led future.
Read moreEuropean Commission’s assessment of Romania’s final national energy and climate plan
Blog entry | 29 October, 2020Two weeks ago, the European Commission published its first report on the State of the Energy Union after the adoption of the European Green Deal.
Read moreRelated publications
From theory to practice: A case-based analysis of the EU’s ‘do no significant harm’ principle
Report | 18 July, 2024 | Download PDFThis report, through a series of case studies, analyses how the ‘do no significant harm’ principle has been applied in various EU Member States.
Unlocking funds for nature: How the next EU budget must deliver for biodiversity
Joint statement | 9 July, 2024 | Download PDFThis joint statement offers three policy proposals to improve EU biodiversity financing.
Supporting the just transition through dedicated technical assistance
Briefing | 28 June, 2024 | Download PDFThe just transition implementation phase is underway. However, additional support is needed to drive implementation and help projects respond to their particular challenges. This briefing provides recommendations for supporting the just transition process with technical assistance, capacity building, project preparation and project funding.