Kyrgyzstan and the conflict over natural resources
July 29, 2013
Kyrgyzstan is a mountainous country rich in water and natural resources. The country is one of 2000 priority ecological regions of the planet with unique ecosystems and biodiversity and is considered the “water tower” of Central Asia due to its Tien Shan glacier reserves. The management of Kyrgyzstan’s natural resources is crucial to the future sustainability of the country. However in a region where poverty is widespread, the primacy placed on economic development seriously threats sustainability.
Comments on the EBRD’s draft country strategy for Georgia
July 25, 2013
Policy briefing: New draft energy (read oil, gas and coal) strategy at the EBRD
July 24, 2013
The EBRD’s draft energy strategy doesn’t have a climate target. It recognizes the urgency of climate action and the fact that the energy sector is the largest greenhouse gas emitter and places energy efficiency and renewable energy at the core of the transition to low carbon economies. The low carbon transition appears to be a central theme of the draft strategy but when it comes to the fossil fuels sector, it only translates into a potential slight reduction in coal investments.
Open letter to EIB: Improvements for energy policy draft
July 19, 2013
The letter, signed by nine NGOs, think tanks and an asset management company, acknowledges the positive step the European Investment Bank has taken with its draft policy “EIB and Energy: Delivering Growth, Security and Sustainability” but also suggests a number of elements that need to be tightened to make the EIB’s energy lending policy policy fit for purpose in reducing risks of high-carbon lock-in for the EU electricity system.
Overview of financing instruments for community power projects
July 18, 2013
“Community energy projects” are energy projects providing for direct benefits to a group of local shareholders. The opportunity for residents to develop and own green energy infrastructure or to jointly leverage untapped energy saving potential, represents a range of economic and social opportunities such as job creation, business opportunities, lowering energy bills and acceptance of sustainable energy production.
Bankwatch comments to the EIB draft energy policy
July 9, 2013
The EU’s global leadership on climate change is set to take another blow if the European Investment Bank, the EU house bank and one of the world’s largest public lenders, adopts a future energy lending policy as presented yesterday to the public. The draft policy includes weaker standards for lending to coal plants than currently proposed in both the US and Canada.
NGO analysis of the results of the Cohesion Policy trilogues
July 9, 2013
Six environmental NGOs, having been working on the Cohesion policy regulations for several years, provide in this document a detailed analysis on the uptake and safeguards of key environmental issues throughout the negotiations between the three institutions (Parliament, Council and Commission), and recommendations to ensure that the next Cohesion Policy for 2014-2020 better contributes to Europe’s 2020 targets, creates green jobs, enhances economic opportunities and addresses environmental challenges.
NGO’s protest letter: Proper impact assessments must be minimum condition for EBRD loan involving “fracking” in Tunisia
July 2, 2013
A USD 60 million loan to Serinus Energy for a project that involves hydraulic fracturing (“fracking”) concessions in Tunisia is being currently considered by the EBRD. In this letter, Tunisian and European organisations urge the EBRD to reject the loan at the next Board meeting or to postpone the decision and undertake proper assessment of its impacts with in-depth consultations of the stakeholders.
Appeal: Stop the European Commission from supporting Ukraine in violating international law
July 1, 2013
This letter, signed by 38 organisations, urges the European Parliament and the Council of Europe and other European bodies to use their political and financial leverage to ensure that the European Commission does not go ahead with a loan for Ukraine’s nuclear reactors until Ukraine resolves the issues regarding its non-compliance with the UN Espoo Convention (more background in this press release.
Invest in haste, repent at leisure – Are IFIs behaving as if EU accession criteria and extreme energy losses do not exist in South East Europe?
June 25, 2013
South-eastern Europe is riddled with poor planning and corruption in the energy sector and its governments are proving slow to react to the challenges and opportunities offered by the decarbonisation agenda.