New report: hydropower subsidies wreak environmental havoc and line influential pockets in the Western Balkans
September 25, 2019
Disproportionate public subsidies for small hydropower in the Western Balkans have resulted in widespread environmental damage and have benefited wealthy business people close to or part of the region’s governments, with little benefit for electricity generation, finds a new study released today by CEE Bankwatch Network.
New report: Scenarios for a just transition in Jiu Valley, Romania
September 23, 2019
NGOs Bankwatch Romania and Greenpeace launched today a new report, “Just transition in Hunedoara – Economic diversification in a fair and sustainable manner”, outlining scenarios for the post-coal development of Romania’s best known coal region, the Jiu Valley, and highlighting that job growth and economic development without coal are very much possible in the region.
Reversal of subsidies for wind power in Bosnia and Herzegovina prompts legal action
September 4, 2019
The Republika Srpska entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina has breached competition legislation by halting its incentive scheme for wind farms in March this year, according to a complaint submitted today to the Energy Community Secretariat in Vienna by the Banja-Luka-based Center for Environment.
Setting precedent, EU bank to drop all fossil fuels funding beyond 2020
July 26, 2019
Prague, Brussels – The European Investment Bank, the house bank of the EU, is proposing to end financing for all fossil fuels beyond 2020, becoming the first multilateral financial institution to make such a commitment in line with the Paris Agreement.
Ahead of Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank meeting in Luxembourg, over 89 000 petition bank to drop Nenskra dam project in Georgia
July 12, 2019
Luxembourg, Prague, Tbilisi – Representatives from the “Stop Nenskra” campaign [1] showed up in Luxembourg at the Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) annual meeting on July 12th and delivered a petition to the international development banks calling them on not to finance the Nenskra hydropower plant project [2] in Svaneti, Georgia.
Slovak government approves Just Transition plan for Upper Nitra
July 3, 2019
The Slovak government is today approving a plan for Upper Nitra’s transition away from coal, which was created based on inputs from the local community.
North Macedonia: Complaint challenges unfair subsidy advantages for hydropower
July 1, 2019
North Macedonia’s renewable energy incentives scheme unfairly advantages small hydropower plants over other energy sources, shows a complaint submitted to the Energy Community [1] today by environmental groups Eko-Svest and CEE Bankwatch Network.
Independent data highlights air pollution crisis in Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina
June 25, 2019
Dust pollution in Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina, has been twice the legal limit on two thirds of monitored days in 2018 and caused over one hundred premature deaths in adults during the year, according to independent new data published today in the report Lifting the Smog [1] by CEE Bankwatch Network, the Health and Environment Alliance – HEAL and the Center for Ecology and Energy in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Bankwatch statement on the EU’s 2050 climate neutrality goal and central and eastern European country positions
June 20, 2019
“With Germany now backing the EU’s 2050 carbon neutrality goal, all eyes are on Poland and other countries of central and eastern Europe that have to date refused to back this target because of their reliance on coal.
Commission calls for higher ambition from central and eastern Europe in energy and climate plans
June 18, 2019
For immediate release. Brussels, Prague – Ahead of Thursday’s European Council summit where the EU’s long-term climate targets will take centre stage, the Commission has released an assessment of Member States’ national energy and climate plans (NECPs) and is pressing countries of central and eastern Europe (CEE) to do more so that Europe can meet its 2050 net-zero emissions objective.
