Why the Balkans is struggling to kick coal
April 20, 2020
Local politicians and Chinese companies are slowing the transition to renewable energy underway in the rest of Europe
No Limits: Serbia Fails to Rein in Coal-Fired Polluters
April 15, 2020
Every year, thousands of people die prematurely in Serbia due to the quality of the air they breathe. Yet the country is still in breach of obligations to control harmful emissions from its coal-fired power plants.
Green Agenda for the Western Balkans – time to plan for a resilient and protective future
April 3, 2020
The Green Agenda must be based on sustainable decarbonisation of the Western Balkans’ economies by 2050, in line with the Paris Climate Agreement and EU climate and energy policies. All countries need to commit to climate and energy targets by 2030, in line with the EU’s ambition.
Joint NGO proposals on the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans
April 3, 2020
The Western Balkans has the necessary resources not only for sustainable renewable energy and energy savings, but also for the production of healthy food, while nurturing its exceptional biodiversity. With only 18 million inhabitants, change in the region should not be as daunting a task as in larger economies, if carried out efficiently, with true political commitment and regional cooperation.
Croatian hydropower plant highlights loopholes in EIB environmental policies
April 2, 2020
The EIB-financed Ilovac hydropower plant was built on the river Kupa in north-west Croatia at around the same time as scientists established the existence of a new fish species there – Alburnus sava. Since the dam’s construction, the species has not been found at the site. Has Alburnus sava’s habitat been degraded for just 1.4 MW of installed power?
Gone with the Flow, A case study of biodiversity loss caused by Ilovac Hydropower plant, Croatia
April 2, 2020
This case study aims to demonstrate that the EIB’s environmental and social (E&S) and transparency policies are insufficiently equipped to prevent the negative impacts of hydropower plants on sensitive ecosystems, in particular when the hydropower project (1) is financed via an intermediary bank and/or (2) is located outside of the EU.
EU Carbon Tax to Encourage Decarbonisation in the Western Balkans
March 31, 2020
An EU consultation is currently ongoing on the plans to introduce a carbon border adjustment mechanism. CEE Bankwatch said in its response to the consultation, which ends on 1 April, that it strongly supports a carbon border tax for the electricity sec
EU carbon tax: A much-needed nudge for decarbonisation in the Western Balkans?
March 30, 2020
An EU consultation is currently ongoing on the plans to introduce a carbon border tax. Bankwatch sees this as an important opportunity to make sure Western Balkan electricity producers play by the rules when participating in the EU energy market.
Aus für Kohlekraftwerk-Bau im Kosovo : Lichtblick auf dem Balkan
March 25, 2020
Gute Nachrichten für das Kosovo: Der Neubau eines neuen Blocks im Braunkohlekraftwerk Kosova e Re ist erst mal vom Tisch.
New Government in Kosovo pivots country away from coal
March 20, 2020
Kosovo, one of the most heavily polluted countries in Europe, looks set to begin pivoting away from its reliance on coal-fired power stations. Earlier this week, UK-based power generation company Contour Global cancelled the construction of a 500 MW coal-fired power plant near the capital, Pristina.