Can Ukraine’s EU-backed recovery plan deliver on its green promises?
June 3, 2024
The Ukrainian government recently unveiled its Ukraine Plan, a key component of the Ukraine Facility, the EU’s 2024–2027 financial support programme aimed at rebuilding the country. The plan outlines several positive steps towards achieving a sustainable recovery, including a commitment to low-carbon, circular, and nature-friendly reconstruction efforts. However, there is much room for improvement.
You(th) have a say in shaping the EU’s just transition
May 31, 2024
Picture a large, stuffy room within European Commission headquarters usually reserved for formal gatherings. On 19 April, at an event that officially concluded the EUTeens4Green initiative, the space was transformed by the infectious energy of over a hundred young leaders. These EUTeens4Green ambassadors shared their inspiring messages and passionate stories, calling on the EU to involve the young generation in climate action.
Joint civil society comments on the EBRD biodiversity standards (ESR 6)
May 29, 2024
Ahead of the EBRD’s Annual Meeting, 12 civil society organisations submitted their collective input on the revised draft of the EBRD’s Environmental and Social Policy, focusing on standards related to biodiversity conservation and sustainable management of living natural resources.
Learning from multiple crises to build resilient agri-food systems
May 29, 2024
While the EBRD investments helped increase agricultural production in its countries of operation, there is an urgent need to address the regional and global challenges. This can be done through sustainable investment into small and medium farms, phasing out large-scale livestock production, investing in circularity and decarbonisation
Suggestions for integrating considerations of land concentration impacts into the EBRD’s safeguards
May 29, 2024
Based on our experience with the EBRD’s investments in the agricultural sector, we have worked with the Land Matrix Initiative to formulate recommendations for the EBRD to integrate considerations of the impact of land concentration into its safeguards.
From drainage to restoration: A new chapter for Estonia’s wetlands
May 28, 2024
In Estonia, drained peatlands are a major source of greenhouse gas emissions and thus exacerbate climate change. Our case study highlights the success of a project aimed at restoring the water regime of a mire ecosystem, leading to a remarkable growth in vegetation and the recovery of multiple species.
Powering up Central and Eastern Europe: How the EU should step up
May 27, 2024
A new European Commission should build on the progress made and strengthen its support for the energy transition in central and eastern Europe.
This year’s Green Agenda Action Plan update must be participatory
May 22, 2024
This week, 30 civil society groups have written to the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) and European Commission, asking for meaningful consultations on the update of the Action Plan for the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans, planned to take place this year.
Destroying while rebuilding: Flawed hydro project set for Polish just transition region needs a rethink
May 7, 2024
Eastern Wielkopolska, one of Poland’s just transition regions, urgently needs to repair the damage caused by decades of lignite mining. One controversial hydrological project slated for the region aims to flood open pits and stabilise water levels. But while these measures appear to be positive steps towards making amends, the environmental impacts of the project have not been assessed, which is likely to result in a number of unintended and damaging consequences.
Open Letter on the Implementation of the RED in the European Union
April 29, 2024
In this letter, we urge the European Commission and Member States to explicitly exclude waste incineration from the scope of ‘waste heat’ targets in the RED, prioritize waste prevention and establish ambitious recycling target and invest in innovative technologies for clean energy generation and resource recovery.