Bankwatch

Up in smoke: the billions for Europe's auto industry from the EU's house bank

In the wake of last month’s Volkswagen (VW) emissions scandal, a Politico story, based on a Bankwatch analysis, revealed that the car manufacturer enjoyed generous public financial support from the European Investment Bank (EIB). But the full picture is even more disturbing.

Tags: crisis response dieselgate EIB NOx pollution subsidies VW transport EU

Institution: EIB

Theme: Transport

Tschechische Regierung kippt Tagebau-Erweiterungsverbot

October 20, 2015

Source: Nov-ost.info, Nov-ost.info

(nov-ost.info) Die tschechische Regierung hat das Moratorium zum weiteren Ausbau des Braunkohle-Tagebaus Bílina in Nordböhmen aufgehoben. Zur Begründung des Schritts führt das Industrieminister

Theme: Mining

Tags: Bilina, coal, Czech Republic, CEE

Czech government pushes people to edge in new coal mine expansion

October 19, 2015

Prague - In a landmark decision today, the Czech Republic reversed a quarter century-old ban that prohibited the expansion of surface mining in an area of Northern Bohemia, allowing excavation in close vicinity of homes of more than 120 000 people.

Theme: Energy & climate, Social & economic impacts, Mining

Tags: carbon emissions, Czech Republic, displacement, lignite, mining, pollution, CEE, EU

CSOs deliver over 16 000 signatures for a cleaner energy future in Tirana

October 16, 2015

Tirana, Albania - A group of CSOs from South East Europe (SEE) delivered over 16 000 petition signatures to Miguel Arias Cañete, EU Commissioner for Energy and Climate Action and Co-Chair of the Ministerial Council of the Energy Community today before its meeting in Tirana, Albania.

Theme: Energy & climate

Tags: coal, Energy Community, petition, renewables, Balkans

Joint reaction on the Energy Community's Roadmap from CEE Bankwatch Network and Climate Action Network Europe

October 16, 2015

On Friday 16th October the Ministerial Council meeting in Tirana adopted a Roadmap on the future of the Energy Community.

Theme: Energy & climate

Tags: coal, Energy Community, Balkans, EU neighbourhood

Public action: Mourning the demise of Czech responsibility for climate action

Video and pictures from a public action agains lifting the coal mining limits in the Czech Republic that so far have saved towns from being resettled.

Tags: carbon emissions Centre for Transport and Energy climate coal displacement highlight Hnuti Duha lignite mining pollution public action resettlement CEE EU

Theme: Energy & climate, Development

EIB accused of smoke and mirrors over new climate lending plan

October 9, 2015

Source: Jessica Shankleman, BusinessGreen

European Investment Bank ditched reference to 2050 decarbonisation target, says NGO

The European Investment Bank (EIB) has been accused of exaggerating its stepped up commitment to tackling climate change this week, with campaigners accusing it of failing to deliver any real advance on its previous lending strategy.

The NGO CEE Bankwatch Network accused the EIB of scrapping a reference to the EU's 2050 decarbonisation pathway in the new strategy and carrying out a "masterpiece of PR" by making vague new commitments without specific targets.

Institution: EIB

Theme: Energy & climate

Tags: climate strategy

Letter to government of Namibia: request for access to information about the Tsumeb smelter

Advocacy letter | October 9, 2015

The Tsumeb smelter in Namibia belongs to Dundee Precious Metals, a Canadian company that operates and develops gold, copper and silver mines in Bulgaria, Armenia and Serbia. Investigating complaints about local pollution, Bankwatch member group Za Zemiata (BG) repeatedly requested access to environmental information from the Namibian government - to no avail.

Read more about the Tsumeb smelter on our blog >>

Institution: EBRD

Theme: Other harmful projects, Development

The EU's bank turns its back on Europe's long term climate goals

It appears that before approving the European Investment Bank's new climate strategy, the bank's Board of Directors has removed a reference to the European Union's long-term decarbonisation objectives as a guidance for the EIB's climate action.

Tags: 2050 targets climate action decarbonisation EIB policy EU

Institution: EIB

Theme: Energy & climate

EIB examining if VW loans used to rig emissions

October 5, 2015

Source: Anca Gurzu, Politico

The European Investment Bank said Monday it is working to find out if any of its loans to Volkswagen to boost research into cleaner engines and other green technology were instead used to rig cars to cheat on emissions tests.

“We are looking into our exposure, we are looking into seeing where the individual loans have been used,” said Jonathan Taylor, the bank’s vice-president.

Institution: EIB

Theme: Transport

Tags: Volkswagen, VW