Polish shale gas – a watery grave looms, but for who?
May 14, 2014
Tomasz Zdrojewski explains the risks to Polish water from the massively hyped fossil fuel bonanza.
United Kingdom’s retreat from coal increases pressure on EBRD
November 21, 2013
With the United Kingdom, another major shareholder of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development is divesting from coal overseas. What does this mean for the upcoming decision on the EBRD’s energy strategy?
Stanari power plant in Bosnia allowed to pollute 2-10 times higher than EU limits, new expert analysis shows
November 21, 2013
The pollution from EFT’s new 300 MW Stanari lignite-fired power plant in Bosnia and Herzegovina may be 2-10 times higher than EU limits allow, according to a new expert analysis commissioned by the Center for Environment from Banja Luka.
Oops … Poland did it again aka standing in the way of climate progress
October 9, 2013
Just a few weeks before leading international climate negotiations at the COP 19 in Warsaw, and in the face of the new IPCC report’s dire conclusions, the Polish government is again obstructing European emissions reduction ambitions.
“Move over Poland!” Czech parliament bids for EU ‘dirty energy’ crown, as renewables subsidies make way for fossil fuels
September 16, 2013
A new law that will redraw the Czech Republic’s approach to renewable energy is suspected to bring the development of the Czech renewables sector to a standstill and instead provide a boost for the country’s fossil fuel sector.
New arrests link corruption with land expropriation at Serbian Kolubara mine
September 11, 2013
Land expropriation and corruption have been two recurring themes at the Kolubara mine. This week’s arrests indicate that they are closely connected.
Energy consultations reveal lack of strategic thinking at the EBRD
September 6, 2013
With another public action, colleagues in Moscow are today bringing to a close a week that has seen the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development having to listen to a lot of uncomfortable truths.
Nordic countries ‘no’ to coal is a glimmer of hope for EBRD energy lending
September 5, 2013
The global campaign to make the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development restrict its coal lending may have found new allies in Nordic countries after their declaration yesterday to seize overseas coal investments.
Thousands remind the EBRD that coal is not an option
September 4, 2013
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development received a little surprise visit this week from 16 000 voices against coal.
Reality, climate change and global attention is catching up on the ‘sustainable energy’ bank (EBRD)
August 28, 2013
As part of the consultation on its energy sector strategy the EBRD next week hosts public meetings in Istanbul, Belgrade and Moscow to discuss with civil society from its countries of operation. While public pressure is increasing to end coal financing it is important to note that restrictions to carbon-intensive investments must be strictly and clearly defined in the strategy document if they are to improve the EBRD’s climate impact. An article from Bankwatch’s 2012 annual report (pdf) illustrates how a too flexible approach allows the EBRD to greenwash also very dirty investments.
