As Romania’s last new coal project is cancelled, a larger gas threat looms
November 19, 2020
Romania’s Minister of Economy, Energy and the Business Environment finally confirmed that no new coal unit will be built in the country.
Leaked document: Czechia plans to spend EU just transition money on gas and subsidising corporations
October 22, 2020
The Czech government is planning to use money from the Just Transition Fund (JTF) to finance the transition of coal units to gas and subsidise large energy companies owned by the state or Czech billionaires, according to a 40-page document authored by the Czech Ministry of Regional Development and the Ministry of Environment, which was just leaked to Czech media.
Victory in Parliament: a green agenda placed at the heart of Europe’s recovery
October 20, 2020
The Environment Committee paves the way for a green and sustainable recovery by applying stricter criteria for all new investments in fossil fuels.
A Green Agenda for the Western Balkans: Where are the teeth?
October 8, 2020
The European Commission on Tuesday published its 2020 enlargement package and an Economic and Investment Plan for the Western Balkans. This was followed on Wednesday by a Green Agenda for the Western Balkans, expected to be endorsed by the countries’ leaders at a summit in Sofia in November. We take a look at how the proposed Green Agenda compares to our recommendations.
The (Un)Just Transition Fund: the European Parliament shows how green it really is
September 22, 2020
Hours after the European Commission announced plans to increase the GHG emissions reduction target to 55%, MEPs voted to keep fossil fuels in the Just Transition Fund.
MEPs gas a green EU budget by voting for fossil fuels in Just Transition Fund
September 16, 2020
The European Parliament plenary session today voted for a 17.5 billion euros Just transition Fund that would permit the funding of fossil fuels projects, striking a blow to the EU’s ambitious European Green Deal.
EIB keeps denying Southern Gas Corridor climate impact
August 4, 2020
As it seeks to morph into the EU’s climate bank, the European Investment Bank (EIB) continues to downplay the climate footprint of many of the projects it finances, including that of Europe’s largest fossil fuels project, the Southern Gas Corridor.
EBRD’s Green Economy Transition must not be a fig leaf for fossil fuels investments
June 16, 2020
Like many other financial institutions, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has responded to the call to join the global effort to tackle the climate crisis. And yet, over the past decade, while growing its support for renewable energy, the bank has continued to hand out public money to the fossil fuels industry.
World’s largest multilateral bank ends fossil fuels financing
November 14, 2019
Brussels, Prague — Bankwatch, Counter Balance and a growing number of civil society groups have long been calling on the European Investment Bank (EIB), the EU’s house bank, to recognise the urgency of stemming the climate crisis and stop handing out public money to fossil fuel projects. Today, November 14, the bank’s Board of Directors adopted a new Energy Lending Policy that ends financing for most fossil fuels projects.
Major gas projects in Romania enabled by regulatory acrobatics – report
October 17, 2019
At a time when public calls for tackling the causes of the climate crisis are growing, Romania’s gas industry has been expanding, courtesy of the Parliament and international financial institutions.