bilaterals.org logo
bilaterals.org logo

climate


We need to rethink investment treaties to ensure a rapid and just energy transition
It’s time to reconsider investor-state dispute settlement; inaction risks rising costs of shifting from fossil fuels to green alternatives.
Stop the Energy Charter Treaty
This obscure treaty from the 1990s grants sweeping rights and protections to big energy investors – mainly fossil fuel companies.
Energy Charter Treaty strikes again as Uniper sues Netherlands over coal phase-out
German energy company Uniper has confirmed its intention to sue the Dutch government over the country’s planned coal phase-out.
Oil companies don’t deserve reparations for fossil fuel bans. They’ll still want them
Energy conglomerates have recourse to special courts and legal regimes that they helped design – and they won’t go down without a fight.
ATPC embarks on first ever environmental assessment of the AfCFTA to usher in green-friendly trade on the continent
The African Trade Policy Centre is preparing the first ever Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) of the AfCFTA to guide on how environmental considerations can be effectively incorporated into the agreement.
How corporate courts block climate action
Corporate courts are an unjust mechanism that can block climate action. The UK should reject them.
Shell’s legal weapon to threaten a just energy future
To realise a future beyond fossil fuels, it is imperative to look at how to disentangle the legal shackles that enable companies to frustrate climate policy and shift the burden of their stranded assets onto the shoulders of taxpayers through arbitration claims.
Political commitments not enough to ratify EU-Mercosur deal, says French minister
Mere “political commitments” will not be enough to ratify the agreement between the European Union and Mercosur countries, a French cabinet minister said.
Take action to end the climate-killing Energy Charter Treaty
Sign the petition to pull out of the Energy Charter Treaty and stop its expansion to other countries!
How Energy Treaty ’shadow’ courts prolong EU’s fossil age
The treaty enables companies to claim billions in compensation from states in front of international arbitration tribunals, if they feel unfairly treated by the states’ energy or climate policies.
EU to be tougher in trade talks, include climate change goals in deals
The European Union will become more assertive in trade talks and push for its international partners to include combating climate change in future deals, its trade commissioner said.
Join the movement and sign the petition to #EndFossilProtection
A petition to ensure the Energy Charter Treaty will no longer be used against EU climate and energy policies is now available for supporters on the European Parliament website.
EU readies reforms to energy treaty as climate criticisms mount
Some governments have said the bloc should consider quitting the agreement because the treaty could threaten climate goals.
EU-Mercosur free-trade pact risks irreversible destruction
With environment issues rising quickly up the EU agenda, it’s time to get trade and ecological policies into coherent alignment.
Q&A: Int’l arbitration expert on Alberta’s threat of ’slam-dunk’ case v. USA over Keystone veto
Alberta’s Premier said that the Canadian province, which has an equity in the now-canceled Keystone XL pipeline, may seek compensation under investor-protection provisions still in effect under NAFTA
France puts EU withdrawal from Energy Charter Treaty on the table
The European Union and its member states should draw the consequences of the current stalemate in multilateral talks aimed at reforming the Energy Charter Treaty and consider a coordinated withdrawal, Paris has said
German energy giant RWE uses the Energy Charter Treaty to attack Dutch climate action
RWE has filed an arbitration claim against the Netherlands, seeking compensation for the Dutch decision to phase-out electricity production from coal by 2030.
Working document on the draft EU-Mercosur Association Agreement
The following avenues can be envisaged to address the concerns raised by the draft EU-Mercosur agreement.
Keystone XL legal risks highlight dangers of putting investors before climate change
The owner of Keystone XL — TC Energy (previously TransCanada) — used NAFTA to launch a US$15 billion lawsuit in 2016 after President Barack Obama cancelled the project.
Canada scrambles to salvage Keystone XL as Biden prepares to kill troubled pipeline project
Alberta believes there was a “very solid” legal basis to seek damages under international free trade agreements if the pipeline is effectively killed, said Alberta Premier