The good, the bad and the uncertain: the new energy policies of Europe’s public banks
March 20, 2014
The European NGO coalition Counter Balance has recently published a short overview of the new energy policies now in place at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the European Investment Bank (EIB). Both banks’ new policies were finalised towards the end of 2013 following extensive consultation with stakeholders from the energy sector, civil society and academia.
European Parliament criticises Serbia’s lack of progress on renewables
February 4, 2014
Facing criticism by the European Parliament of its progress on climate friendly energy sources, the Serbian government tells Bankwatch’s member group that the future of the country’s energy system is none of their business.
New report – How Turkey’s coal boom threatens local economies on the Black Sea
November 11, 2013
With coal power expansion booming in Turkey, a new Bankwatch report based on a recent field trip finds that the environmental impacts of coal power plants are inadequately assessed, while Turkey’s viable, clean alternatives to coal are neither being analysed or discussed seriously by senior policy- and decision-makers.
“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 facts are busting energy myths
July 18, 2013
Adequate decision making on energy policies must be based on accurate information and cannot rely on outdated knowledge and misconceptions. A new series of fact sheets explores the myths and facts of Europe’s energy sector.
A tale of neglect: Energy finance figures from the Western Balkans
June 25, 2013
The neglect by international financial institutions of the Western Balkans sustainable energy potential will cost the region’s public heavily for years to come. Figures collected in a new study illustrate how the different international lenders perform in the region.
The European Investment Bank’s energy lending: stuck in the past or facing the future?
May 23, 2013
The European Investment Bank, the house bank of the European Union, which directs a fifth of its annual lending portfolio of 60 to 70 billion euros to energy projects, is currently reviewing the policy document that guides its lending to the power sector. On this occasion, Bankwatch is publishing a poster of positive and negative examples of the bank’s lending to energy projects.
The EIB’s energy lending in the spotlight
January 14, 2013
The European Investment Bank has opened a review of its energy policy and called for the public’s views on the key future challenges for the bank’s operations. The lending figures to the energy sector until 2011 show that the policy must better guide the EIB’s lending towards EU policy objectives of de-carbonisation of the energy sector.
Environmentalists, get your keyboards ready: The European Investment Bank asks for inputs on its energy policy
October 11, 2012
With annually more than ten billion euros of investments in the energy sector, the EIB can have a tremendous influence on our energy future. If we want the bank to help us “get it right”, the time for providing inputs is now.
Continued EU budget battle could sacrifice clean energy investments and clog economic recovery
September 25, 2012
Continued debates about a reduction of the future EU budget jeopardise the potential of using EU funds for energy efficiency and renewables investments to provide necessary economic stimulus and climate mitigation.