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Fossil fuel subsidies by European public banks are underwriting climate change
September 28, 2017

The United States and Syria stand alone. With the recent adoption by Nicaragua of the Paris climate agreement, only those two countries appear to ignore the global imperative of phasing out fossil fuels if the world is to avoid the worst impacts of the climate crisis.

Within the EU, the acknowledgment of the need to phase out fossil fuel subsidies as a key part of the global effort to stem climate change has materialised in multiple policy decisions including the Europe 2020 Strategy and the recent EU 2030 Energy and Climate governance framework.

EBRD
EIB
Energy & climate
Georgia's highlanders against hydropower
September 20, 2017

As the Georgian government moves ahead with its plans for increasing the country’s hydropower capacity, local communities are being sidelined in the process of compensation payments.

EBRD
EIB
AIIB
ADB
Energy & climate
Social & economic impacts
Caucasus, EU neighbourhood, hydropower, internally displaced persons, land rights, local communities, participation, resettlement, transparency
[Campaign update] EBRD confirms negative impacts of Albanian hydropower plants on people and the environment
September 20, 2017

It’s been a hot summer all over the Balkans. A heatwave called Lucifer struck Albania, drying up its river and causing numerous forest fires. Since Albania relies 90% on hydropower for its electricity, the drought resulted in a significant drop in production, forcing Albania to import 80 percent of it electricity.

EBRD
Energy & climate
Balkans, drought, EU neighbourhood, hydropower, irrigation, locals impacts, Rapuni, Ternove
Systematic shortcomings will deprive people affected by Georgian dam of compensation
September 11, 2017

An assessment of livelihoods of people to be affected by the Nenskra hydropower plant in Georgia contains mistakes that will lead to significant losses for locals.

EBRD
EIB
AIIB
ADB
Social & economic impacts
Caucasus, EU neighbourhood, hydropower, indigenous people, land rights, livelihoods, resettlement, Svaneti
The true colours of Svaneti - A festival in the stunning Georgian mountains
August 30, 2017

Despite the remote location, the culture festival We Are Svaneti brought together people from three continents and helped young Svans to become aware of their communities’ unique traditions.

EBRD
EIB
Export credit agencies
AIIB
ADB
Energy & climate
Social & economic impacts
Caucasus, culture, hydropower, indigenous people, resettlement, Svaneti, tradition
Southern Gas Corridor update: Russian involvement increasingly evident
July 17, 2017

While new public finance for the Southern Gas Corridor is lining up, the European Commission's narrative that the pipeline would relieve Europe’s dependence on Russian gas continues to crumble.

EBRD
Energy & climate
350.org, Bill McKibben, Caucasus, Energy Union, EU, Gazprom, James Hanson, Lukoil, Naomi Klein, NoTAP, Snam, Trans-Adriatic Pipeline
Nuclear safety in Europe: decision-making behind closed doors?
July 4, 2017

European citizens don’t want to be left out of decision-making over nuclear power. But a recent meeting of the Espoo Convention reveals how concerns over reactor life-time extensions are being sidelined.

EBRD
Euratom
Energy & climate
Social & economic impacts
CEE, Espoo, EU, EU neighbourhood, nuclear, op-ed, safety
Nuclear accountability curbed by EU politics and industry interests
July 3, 2017

A meeting of the parties to the UN convention on environmental impact assessment in a transboundary context (Espoo) helped to showcase the influence that politics and the nuclear industry lobby have over decisions that have potentially severe impacts on European citizens’ health and the environment.

EBRD
Euratom
Energy & climate
CEE, corporate lobbying, Espoo, EU neighbourhood, nuclear, op-ed, safety
Guest post: A win for citizen activism after UNESCO asks Macedonia to stop all construction projects on Lake Ohrid
June 27, 2017

After a field visit to the Lake Ohrid in Macedonia, the UNESCO requested the Macedonian government to halt construction projects in the area, one of which is supported by the European Bank For Reconstruction and Development.

EBRD
Transport
Other harmful projects
Balkans, biodiversity, EU neighbourhood, Lake Ohrid, roads, success, UNESCO
Women and hydropower: exacerbating vulnerability without resettlement
June 19, 2017

The disproportionate impacts that the Nenskra hydropower project in Georgia will have on women are not being assessed by the project company, in spite of its financiers’ standards.

EBRD
ADB
Energy & climate
Social & economic impacts
Caucasus, Chuberi, energy, farming, gender, hydropower, local impacts, Nakra, women

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