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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).
The obscure treaty that could kill a global green recovery
9-Jul-2020 The New Republic
The Energy Charter Treaty, with 53 signatories, allows energy companies to sue states that make their business unprofitable.
EU must end investment protection in the fossil sector
6-Jul-2020 Euractiv
The Energy Charter Treaty, which dates back to the 1990s, severely restricts Europe’s ability to change regulations in the energy sector, with many EU member states facing court actions worth billions of euros, write a group of MEPs.
Countries serious about climate change should leave the Energy Charter Treaty, says former ECT official
3-Jul-2020 bilaterals.org
Interview with Yamina Saheb, former head of unit in the Energy Charter Treaty Secretariat .
Prairie Mining secures litigation funding to sue Poland
2-Jul-2020 ShareCast
The claims had arisen out of certain measures taken by Poland, allegedly in breach of the Energy Charter Treaty and the Australia-Poland Bilateral Investment Treaty.
NextEra wins millionaire renewables lawsuit against Spain
18-Jun-2020 The Corner
The ICSID has lifted the suspension on the execution of the €290 million award NextEra obtained a year ago.
Africa should resist acceding to the Energy Charter Treaty
11-Jun-2020 Daily Monitor
Joining the Energy Charter Treaty could cost developing countries money that is urgently needed to fight Covid-19 and a loaming economic crisis. The Energy Charter Treaty has become increasingly controversial.