NGO WORK
Incredible WIN! European Union withdraws from Energy Charter Treaty
The Energy Charter Treaty (ECT) is an international agreement originally created with a focus on growing fossil fuel energy cooperation after the Cold War. Today, the Treaty is a major obstacle to effective climate action because it protects fossil fuel investments. By including investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS), the Energy Charter Treaty allows fossil fuel corporations to sue States that act to protect our climate when that action could impact a company’s profits.
Today, we celebrate because the European Council overwhelmingly adopted the EU’s proposal to exit the controversial Energy Charter Treaty (ECT), an outdated international investment agreement that protects and promotes fossil fuel investments.
CIEL and other organizations across Europe have worked tirelessly to educate European decision-makers about the dangers of the Energy Charter Treaty. Together, we proved how the treaty prevents effective climate action and is fundamentally incompatible with EU law.
This pivotal vote follows up an EU Commission’s proposal for the EU and European Atomic Energy Community to exit the Energy Charter Treaty.
The Commission found the ECT incompatible with the EU’s laws, investment policy and law, and energy and climate goals. Its proposal broke months of deadlock by offering EU countries the option to remain in the treaty while allowing other countries to exit. The European Parliament also adopted a resolution in April 2024 calling on the EU to withdraw from the ECT.
Today’s vote proves that people power can win critical victories!
Join us in celebrating this victory for the people, the environment, and the climate!
Why does this matter?
Fossil fuel investors have used the Energy Charter Treaty to sue States when they take climate action, claiming a right to compensation for alleged loss of investments. If they are serious about climate action, States must disentangle themselves from investor protections that allow fossil fuel companies to sue them in private courts when States act in the public interest to phase out fossil fuels. States could be squeezed from both sides: sued by communities for their climate inaction with ever greater frequency, and sued by investors when they do act to phase out the fossil fuel drivers of the climate crisis and accelerate the energy transition.
|
|
Policymakers in Europe, and beyond, now have a duty to end their dependency on fossil fuels, exit the ISDS system that allows industry to sue States for enacting public interest policies, and accelerate the clean energy transition.
This win in Europe is a milestone in the fight against investor state dispute settlements. Now, we are leveraging this momentum for other States and clearing the way for effective climate action around the world.
Today we celebrate this victory with you. Tomorrow we will continue working to uproot the fossil economy driving the climate crisis, and the trade and investment deals that stand in the way of a renewable energy future.
Source: ciel.org
Related posts:
PFZW scraps funding from Total and others for failure to transition into a cleaner energy mix.
30 civil society organizations have written to the World Bank Group demanding to publicly disclose the Africa Energy Approach paper.
European Union Delegation to Uganda visits Kiryandongo land grab affected community, sets a new record.
Banks have given almost $7tn to fossil fuel firms since Paris deal, report reveals
Related posts:
Witness Radio and Seed Savers Network are partnering to produce radio content to save indigenous seeds in Africa.
Seed Boot Camp: A struggle to conserve local and indigenous seeds from extinction.
The Witness Radio and Seed Savers Network Joint Radio program boosts Farmers’ knowledge of seed and food sovereignty.
Seed Sovereignty: Most existing and emerging laws and policies on seeds are endangering seed saving and conservation on the African continent.
NGO WORK
UN Experts Put Tanzanian Government on Notice – “Ensure Transparency and Respect for Indigenous Peoples’ Rights in Ngorongoro”
|
|
Related posts:
Sham Presidential Commissions Rubber Stamp Tanzanian Government’s Efforts to Evict Indigenous Maasai from Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Tanzanian Government’s Sustained Campaign Against the Maasai in Loliondo and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area
URGENT ALERT: Tanzanian Government on a Rampage Against Indigenous People
Call to Sever Ties with Tanzanian Government Over Latest Human Rights Abuses Against the Maasai
Related posts:
Amidst Failed US Sanctions, the Indigenous Pay the Price for Nicaragua’s Gold Rush
DR Congo oil palm company bankrolled by development banks unleashes wave of violence against villagers after peaceful protests
Artisanal gold miners defy government on mercury use
Njuba’s Gold Mine victims: A violent Eviction that Opened Wounds That May Never Heal Forever
Accountability in Crisis: Development banks, while funding Asia’s energy transition, are accused of silencing Asian local and Indigenous communities, highlighting the central tension between a clean-energy push and the repression of those most affected.
Agroecological Entrepreneurship: African farmers are redefining agriculture by building agroecological businesses that challenge industrial models.
The 2nd edition of East Africa Business and Human Rights opens in Nairobi, highlighting the critical issue of African States’ limited participation in global treaty-making, which risks leaving the continent’s specific needs unaddressed.
Buvuma residents drove off surveyors as they resisted the surveying of their land targeted for palm oil tree planting.
Experts warn that without Africa’s control over resources and climate financing, the continent faces the risk of entering a new era of “green colonialism”.
Stop favoring export-oriented production over strengthening local food systems – Food Sovereignty advocates to the African Development Bank officials.
EU delegation praises Uganda’s oil and gas progress amid mounting land and human rights challenges in the Albertine Region.
The 2nd edition of East Africa Business and Human Rights opens in Nairobi, highlighting the critical issue of African States’ limited participation in global treaty-making, which risks leaving the continent’s specific needs unaddressed.
Innovative Finance from Canada projects positive impact on local communities.
Over 5000 Indigenous Communities evicted in Kiryandongo District
Petition To Land Inquiry Commission Over Human Rights In Kiryandongo District
Invisible victims of Uganda Land Grabs
-
MEDIA FOR CHANGE NETWORK2 weeks agoEU delegation praises Uganda’s oil and gas progress amid mounting land and human rights challenges in the Albertine Region.
-
MEDIA FOR CHANGE NETWORK5 days agoThe 2nd edition of East Africa Business and Human Rights opens in Nairobi, highlighting the critical issue of African States’ limited participation in global treaty-making, which risks leaving the continent’s specific needs unaddressed.
-
MEDIA FOR CHANGE NETWORK2 weeks agoThe Indigenous Seeds movement in East Africa is convening in Kenya, with the potential to reshape the region’s food systems.
-
MEDIA FOR CHANGE NETWORK1 week agoWorld Environment Day 2026: Environmental Advocates warn of rising ecological costs arising from Uganda’s land-based investments.
-
STATEMENTS2 weeks agoLand-based investments in Uganda are weakening the country’s ecological resilience.
-
MEDIA FOR CHANGE NETWORK2 weeks agoCourt Ruling: RDCs and police cannot stop lawful land evictions.
-
MEDIA FOR CHANGE NETWORK6 days agoBuvuma residents drove off surveyors as they resisted the surveying of their land targeted for palm oil tree planting.
-
MEDIA FOR CHANGE NETWORK4 days agoAgroecological Entrepreneurship: African farmers are redefining agriculture by building agroecological businesses that challenge industrial models.