Stop World Bank Dirty Business!

While the World Bank held an official consultation on its energy strategy in Brussels, the disastrous impacts of World Bank financing on climate change and the world’s poorest where denounced by activists. Campaigners from Les Amis de la Terre, CRBM, Urgewald and Friends of the Earth Europe staged a ‘black comedy’ in which bankers tried to sell so called ‘clean’ coal. The stunt took place in front of the World Bank office in Brussels, where EU representatives, bankers, corporations and others were discussing the future of its energy lending.

Images from South Africa brought attention to the World Bank financed Eskom project in South Africa - one of the biggest and dirtiest coal fired power plants in the world. The Eskom loan proves that the bank is not taking into adequate consideration the demands of local communities, but continues to promote large scale energy investments in the interest of large multinationals with detrimental impacts on the environment, people and the climate. The World Bank energy strategy review was an opportunity to push for the World Bank to stop financing fossil fuel and redirect its investments to renewable energies and energy efficiency to benefit of the poorest.

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‘Tar sands - undermining EU Climate Ambitions?’

The Public Debate was held at the European Parliament to present the environmental, climate and social impacts of tar sands as well as discussing relevant EU policy proposals in the context of EU Climate Agenda (Fuel Quality Directive - FQD), Europe 2020 Strategy, relations with Canada and address the issue of EU energy security in the tar sands context. Important topics were covered, including the impacts of tar sands exploration on climate, environment and developing countries, assessing current efforts and EU policy tools to reduce climate impacts of fuels. Furthermore, the debate discussed how to prevent heavy crude oil from undermining EU climate ambitions and development objectives. The event brought together representatives of the European Commission, European Parliament, US and European experts, industry, international organisations, civil society members from European and developing countries including communities affected by tar sands operations in Canada.

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The 40% Seminar, in European Parliament

The 40% Seminar was held in the European Parliament on 27th April to discuss the scale of emission cuts that are technically feasible in Europe by 2020; how EU climate policy compares to what science and the EU’s historical responsibility tells us is necessary, and how EU policy can be improved in the short and medium term. Speakers from the Director General of DG Energy, the DG Climate Action, the Stockholm Environment Institute, EURIMA (European Insulation Manufacturers Association) and UK Committee on Climate Change showed that the EU can do a lot more to combat climate change than its current commitments, and needs to adopt stronger targets for emission reductions, as well as an overarching climate policy framework.

Panellists discussed how new legislation such as a legally binding EU energy efficiency target, in addition to the already existing renewables target, can help to achieve the necessary 40% domestic emission reductions. They also looked at how an overarching policy tool modelled on the UK climate law can be applied at the European level.

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Robin Hood battles bankers in Brussels over tax on rich for poor

Friends of the Earth Europe and others staged a live struggle today as Robin Hood and is band of merry men (and women!) tried to wrest money from selfish bankers, to help finance aid for the climate and the poor. The stunt took place as European Heads of state gathered for their Spring Summit where they will address the continuing climate and economic crises, agree a new strategy for jobs and growth, examine financial market regulation ahead of the next G20 meeting and assess the state of play in the follow-up to the Copenhagen Conference on climate change. Friends of the Earth Europe and other campaign groups are calling for the European Union to introduce of a financial transaction tax (FTT), also known as a 'Robin Hood Tax'. The 'Robin Hood Tax' is a tiny tax on financial market transactions. Even at very low rates of 0.05% or less, this tax could raise hundreds of billions of euros annually for domestic and international projects and would cost governments and ordinary citizens nothing. At the same time, it would help reducing high-speculative transactions that caused the current crisis.

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FoEE skill share and capacity building workshop "Transforming The Economic Growth Paradigm

The issue of economic growth has been a core issue of the environmental movement from an early stage. It has broad implications for nearly all environmental issues and it has been one of our most natural entry points to the overarching debate of economic paradigm shift, that is necessary for a just and sustainable future.

The workshop was organised by FoEE to provide the opportunity for FoEE network professionals and engaged volunteers to:

• Share knowledge and experiences on the issue of economic growth and related issues
• Discuss drivers and impacts of our addiction to growth as well as alternatives
• Identify links to existing and earlier issues and activities within the network
• Brainstorm/discuss possible future activities