For European public finance, where will all roads lead from Paris?
April 22, 2016
Signing the Paris Agreement is an important step in Europe’s contribution to the global effort to tackle the climate crisis. But funding this commitment necessarily passes through the public coffers. To kick-start the much-needed energy transition– by swiftly cutting emissions to reach the global carbon neutrality the Paris Agreement prescribes for the second half of this century –a change of paradigm in public investments in energy infrastructure is needed.
A Ukrainian nuclear power plant and the containment of a disaster
April 22, 2016
Zaporizhia is one of Ukraine’s four active nuclear plants. It has six reactors, each with the capacity to produce 1000 MW, and was built at the same time as Chernobyl, with Soviet-era reactors. Oleh Dudar, head of operations, joined the plant in 1986 – the year of the Chernobyl catastrophe.
Four big reasons not to sell uranium to Ukraine
April 18, 2016
As the 30th anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster approaches, Noel Wauchope outlines just a few compelling reasons why the Coalition Government’s uranium deal with Ukraine may have further disastrous consequences. WHAT AMAZINGLY insensitive timing. As the anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear catastrophe approaches, Australia makes a deal (at the Nuclear Security Summit) to sell uranium to Ukraine. This is such a bad idea for so many reasons — it’s hard to know which to pick first! Economics: simply because uranium exporting is not really economically worthwhile.
Europe’s Keystone XL: Planned gas pipeline is reckless
April 15, 2016
The Southern Gas Corridor risks locking in higher fossil fuel dependence and wasting colossal amounts of public money.
Lost in transition: Far-reaching changes needed as European bank marks 25 years
April 11, 2016
On April 15, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) will be marking its 25th anniversary. Reflecting on two decades of monitoring the EBRD’s policies and projects, a new report from CEE Bankwatch Network raises concerns about a growing gap between the bank’s operations and its mandate.
Lost in transition – 25 years of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
April 11, 2016
This report examines a selection of cases monitored by CEE Bankwatch Network and its partners in recent years and highlights some of the weaknesses observed in the EBRD’s approach to environmental, social, democracy and development issues. On 15 April 2016 the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) will mark its 25th anniversary. This opportunity should kick-start a debate about what the London-based public bank has achieved since it started operations in 1991 and to reflect on its future.
Where the grass is less green. Public funding for energy in the European Neighbourhood Policy
April 7, 2016
Countries of the European Neighbourhood have received a boost to their energy sectors in the last decade, thanks in part to the prominent role played by the EU as a catalyst of both policy reforms and financing. This study examines EU financing for the energy sector in 16 countries of the European Neighbourhood between 2007 and 2014.
Ukraine needs European values and Europe’s solidarity
April 4, 2016
Ahead of a referendum in the Netherlands on the association agreement between the European Union and Ukraine, Olexi Pasyuk from the National Ecological Centre of Ukraine discusses the agreement’s importance for Ukraine’s civil society and why Europe must still improve how it engages with the country.
New agreement for Georgian Khudoni dam signals expropriations and tariff hike
March 31, 2016
After hitting a snag, the Khudoni dam in Georgia’s mountains is back in the game threatening to expropriate private lands and to bump up electricity prices for Georgian consumers. The controversial changes in an amended contract have inflamed the passion of the Svans who have for years tried to protect their communities from flooding.
Ukrajina predlžuje životnosť „zombie“ reaktorov
March 30, 2016
Aktivisti upozorňujú na vážne bezpečnostné nedostatky starnúcich jadrových kapacít. V apríli si svet pripomenie 30. výročie najväčšej jadrovej katastrofy v Európe, ktorá sa odohrala v ukrajinskej elektrárni Černobyľ. Len o niekoľko dní neskôr plánuje ukrajinská Štátna inšpekcia pre jadrový dozor začať proces predlžovania životnosti dvoch reaktorov v najväčšej atómovej elektrárni v Európe v Záporoží na východe krajiny, približne 250 kilometrov od bojovej línie.