Open letter to EU Ministers of Foreign Affairs, General Affairs Council
June 25, 2012
Current proposals for the Cohesion Policy’s European Regional Development Fund would effectually rebrand gas as a low-carbon energy source in spite of its status as a fossil fuel. This letter, signed by 21 environmental organisations, urges Europe’s decision makers not to approve these proposals and instead to ensure that European regional development investments focus on renewable energy sources, smart energy distribution, and energy efficiency measures.
Comments and recommendations on the EBRD Draft Mining Strategy
June 23, 2012
(Download a short version of these comments as pdf.) As it is now, the EBRD foresees growth in the mining sector and sees its involvement as crucial in this process. At the same time the Bank recognizes that mining can cause significant adverse environmental and social impacts, including permanent ones, and that no single mine can be sustainable since it exploits a finite local resource.
A call for an open and transparent consultation process over the EIB’s energy policy
June 13, 2012
In this letter, five NGOs and NGO coalitions call on the EIB to undertake consultations according to the best standard as well as to identify and inform a wide range of stakeholders about the revision of the policy.
Transport in the EU Budget: Making spending sustainable – Priorities for the TEN-T Guidelines and the Connecting Europe Facility
June 10, 2012
Transport is the only sector where greenhouse gas emissions are still increasing. Without decisive new action, transport GHG emissions are expected to grow by 74% until 2050. The Commission has pledged that at least 20% of the proposed €1 trillion EU budget for 2014-2020 will go towards climate mitigation and adaptation goals. This paper outlines how these commitments can be put into practice in the regulations on CEF and the TEN-T guidelines.
A Partnership of unequals – Electricity exports from the eastern neighbourhood and western Balkans
June 7, 2012
Cooperation in the energy sector is one of the European Union’s key priorities in its relationships with neighbouring states. Although the promotion of energy efficiency, energy savings and the use of renewable energy sources should be the primary areas of cooperation along with “energy security”, the latter receives the lion’s share of attention and in several cases also a disproportionally large amount of financial support. This can have several negative environmental and social implications as this study shows.
Letter to EBRD requesting evaluation of K2R4 safety modernisation before considering new loan to Ukraine’s nuclear energy sector
June 1, 2012
Due to a number of so far unfulfilled project measures in an EBRD financed safety modernisation project in Ukraine (K2/R4 post start-up safety modernisation programme), Bankwatch has asked the EBRD’s Chief Evaluator for a thorough evaluation before further loans for Ukraine’s nuclear energy company Energoatom are being considered.
Revealed: EBRD climate crimes rising
May 17, 2012
EBRD efforts to clean up its energy lending in central and eastern Europe are being undermined by extensive fossil fuel investments, with astonishing increases in the EBRD’s backing for coal and oil projects in 2011.
Tug of War: Fossil fuels vs. green energy at the EBRD
May 17, 2012
The briefing summarises the findings of the Bankwatch study ‘Tug of War: Fossil fuels vs. green energy at the EBRD’. The study shows that almost half of the 6.7 billion euros lent to energy related projects by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) between 2006-2011 goes to support for fossil fuels. This will prevent the bank’s commendable efforts to increase lending to new renewables and energy efficiency from actually making a difference in the global fight against climate change.
Tug of War: Fossil fuels versus green energy at the EBRD
May 17, 2012
Our study shows that almost half of the 6.7 billion euros lent by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) between 2006-2011 goes to support for fossil fuels. This will prevent the bank’s commendable efforts to increase lending to new renewables and energy efficiency from actually making a difference in the global fight against climate change.
Comments on EBRD Draft Country Strategy for Armenia
May 16, 2012
