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ECT

German energy giant RWE uses the Energy Charter Treaty to attack Dutch climate action
4-Feb-2021 CAN Europe
RWE has filed an arbitration claim against the Netherlands, seeking compensation for the Dutch decision to phase-out electricity production from coal by 2030.
Energy Charter Treaty reform reaches milestone, with little progress to show
16-Dec-2020 Euractiv
A two-day conference of the 54 parties to the Energy Charter Treaty will attempt to move forward in reforming the little-known charter, decried by environmentalists for protecting fossil fuel investments and blocking international efforts to curb global warming.
Busting myths around the Energy Charter Treaty
15-Dec-2020 TNI
Amidst growing concerns that the ECT undermines urgent climate action, its corporate profiteers, the ECT Secretariat, and others are spewing propaganda, promoting falsehoods about how the treaty attracts clean investment.
Open letter from climate leaders and scientists to signatories of the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT)
8-Dec-2020 End Fossil Protection
Withdraw from the Energy Charter Treaty because it impedes the transition to clean energy.
Russia suffers new blow in $50 billion Yukos case
7-Dec-2020 The Moscow Times
The Netherlands’ top court ruled that shareholders in dismantled oil giant Yukos can continue to pursue Russia for $50 billion in compensation pending a final judgement in a long legal saga.
EU Commission could pull out of controversial energy treaty
4-Dec-2020 EU Observer
The European Commission has confirmed for the first time that Brussels could withdraw from the controversial Energy Charter Treaty (ECT), which critics say shields the fossil-fuel industry.
EU tries to stop fossil fuel companies suing states over climate action
29-Oct-2020 Climate Home News
Brussels’ proposed green reforms to the Energy Charter Treaty face resistance from Japan, yet do not go far enough for environmental campaigners.
MEPs urge EU to be ready to dump disputed energy treaty
23-Oct-2020 EU Observer
Cross-party MEPs called on the European Commission to be prepared to withdraw from the controversial Energy Charter Treaty, if negotiations for its modernisation fail.
Key international legal measures risk making the cost of green energy shift skyrocket
5-Oct-2020 IIED
A complex set of international legal measures protecting the fossil fuel industry risks significantly increasing the cost of moving to green energy and tackling climate change, a new report reveals.
Costs rise in Vattenfall lawsuit over German government’s nuclear phase-out
5-Oct-2020 Clean Energy Wire
The German government writes that around 21.7 million euros have been spent on lawyers, expert witnesses and court fees.
Ukraine renewables feed-in tariff reduction could lead to investor action
24-Sep-2020 Out-Law
Investors in renewable energy projects in Ukraine are considering legal action after feed-in tariffs for solar and onshore wind power plants were reduced retroactively to 2015, according to an expert.
Japan backs ISDS in fierce debate at Energy Charter Treaty review
17-Sep-2020 AFTINET
A written submission from Japan published by the ECT secretariat rejected language on the “right to regulate” and changes to the investor-state dispute resolution mechanism.
Energy companies keep right to sue states in private courts, as treaty reforms blocked
16-Sep-2020 Climate Home News
Negotiators have ruled out an overhaul of private courts that allow energy companies to sue national governments when climate change policies hurt their profits.
Fracking company sues Slovenia over ‘unreasonable’ environmental protections
10-Sep-2020 Climate Home News
A British oil and gas company is using a controversial energy treaty to sue Slovenia, after being required to carry out an environmental impact assessment
Australian mining firm launches arbitration proceedings against Poland
10-Sep-2020 First News
Australian mining firm Prairie Mining has launched international arbitration proceedings against Poland, claiming damages for the alleged hindering of the development of its two coal mines located in the country.
‘Obsolete’ Energy Charter Treaty must be reformed or ditched, lawmakers say
8-Sep-2020 Euractiv
The 1991 Energy Charter Treaty must be profoundly overhauled in order to remove all “obsolete” provisions protecting fossil fuel investments and hindering climate action, lawmakers from across Europe said.
Japan blocks green reform of major energy investment treaty
8-Sep-2020 Climate Change News
The Japanese government is blocking reform of a treaty that allows energy companies to sue nation states when climate policies affect their profits.
How the little-known Energy Charter Treaty is holding environmental policy hostage
7-Sep-2020 Equal Times
Is it possible to take urgently needed action on climate change while simultaneously protecting the fossil fuel industry, the very cause of climate imbalance?
Treaty claims against the Republic of Slovenia by Ascent Resources Plc and Ascent Slovenia Ltd
14-Aug-2020 Investegate
Ascent Resources Plc and its subsidiary Ascent Slovenia Ltd have formally notified Slovenia of the existence of disputes under the UK - Slovenia bilateral investment treaty and the Energy Charter Treaty.
Green NGOs demand EU dumps controversial energy treaty
14-Jul-2020 EU Observer
Green groups have renewed their demand for the EU and member states to jointly withdraw from the controversial Energy Charter Treaty (ECT).