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IEU CEPA: A threat to the environment, indigenous peoples, and biodiversity
Indonesia for Global Justice (IGJ) and WALHI (Friends of the Earth Indonesia) released a joint statement raises critical concerns about the proposed Indonesia-EU CEPA. It highlights the potential negative impacts of the agreement, particularly when coupled with Indonesia’s Omnibus Law, on the environment, Indigenous communities, and biodiversity.
New AFTINET explainer: why ISDS is a threat to climate action
This explainer sheds light on how Clive Palmer is using Investor-State Dispute Settlement provisions in trade agreements to claim up to $420 billion from the Australian government.
Clive Palmer’s foreign investor claims against Australia now $420b
Clive Palmer’s latest claims join a growing global list of ISDS claims by fossil fuel companies defined by the UN and the OECD as threats to the global climate transition.
Colombia is defending its sovereignty from the power of global corporations
Trade deals can allow international corporations to trample over the rights of governments in the Global South. That is the message from the Colombian government, which describes the effect of such deals as a “bloodbath” for their national sovereignty.
Commission must stop Energy Charter Treaty hijacking EU climate policy
The Energy Charter Treaty allow fossil fuel investors to sue EU member states before international arbitral tribunals to challenge climate mitigation measures. This legal mechanism is increasingly weaponized by the industry.
“Shocking and sad”: how corporations use investment agreements to block decarbonisation in the Global South
Experts talk about investor-state dispute settlements, which allow fossil fuel companies to bring multi-billion dollar lawsuits against countries that pass green policies.
The Energy Charter Treaty remains the most dangerous investment treaty to the energy transition
Our ranking reveals that the Energy Charter Treaty remains the most dangerous investment treaty to the energy transition by protecting over 300 megatonnes (Mt) of greenhouse gas emissions.
The Mercosur deal — why would the EU trust a man like Milei?
The EU’s climate hypocrisy is exposed yet again: while Argentina’s far-right president Javier Milei threatens to exit the Paris Agreement, the EU is turning a deaf ear and rushing to finalise the climate-wrecking EU-Mercosur trade deal.
Energy Charter Treaty modernisation adopted, still undermines climate action
Even after modernisation, the ECT continues to undermine European and global climate policies.
Campaigners call for Cop29 to commit to ending secretive corporate courts
Investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) courts are a legal mechanism that allow corporations to sue governments for decisions which they claim impact their profits — including environmental protections.
Climate Hypocrisy ahead of G20: New report exposes the dangers of Milei’s climate-wrecking economic reforms and why the EU-Mercosur trade deal should finally be dropped
A new report uncovers the climate-wrecking economic shock plans by Argentina’s far-right President Javier Milei, and how the EU-Mercosur trade deal risks fueling Argentina’s social-ecological crisis and climate-breakdown.
International investment law and ISDS: Overcoming legal barriers to effective climate action under the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement
The urgent need to address climate change is hindered by legal barriers within international investment law, particularly through Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) mechanisms.
After intra-EU BITs and the ECT, the EU needs to abandon extra-EU BITs—for legal, energy and climate policy, and political economy reasons
EU members should terminate extra-EU BITs. To facilitate the process, the EU could spearhead an instrument similar to the plurilateral agreement to terminate intra-EU BITs or based on the draft treaty language on termination proposed to UNCITRAL.
In India’s FTA talks with EU, sustainability a key issue
The next round of talks between the two sides is scheduled for September 23-27. This will be the ninth round since talks were relaunched in 2022.
Fossil fuel companies reap billions from arcane dispute clause
Fossil fuel companies have claimed billions of dollars from countries through an arcane legal provision that could deter governments from imposing more stringent climate laws.
India-EU free trade talks: Carbon tax back on the table
India has convinced the European Union to include the bloc’s proposed carbon tax in talks on a free trade agreement, said two officials in the know, ahead of a similar move with the UK.
Investment treaties are undermining the global energy transition
Globally, 2 gigatonnes (Gt) of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) of potential annual greenhouse gas emissions is protected via investment treaties.
TC Energy loses $15-billion NAFTA lawsuit against US
The welcome decision shines a light on Canada’s flawed defence in similar investor-state case against Canada.
Why Switzerland is diverging from Europe on a key energy treaty
The European Union will withdraw from the Energy Charter Treaty, an international agreement that protects investments in coal and oil. But Switzerland is sticking to the agreement which scientists considered incompatible with climate goals.
Dismissal of $15 billion NAFTA legacy case on Keystone XL pipeline is welcome, but billions in egregious claims still remain
The World Bank has dismissed Canadian oil company TC Energy’s $15 billion ISDS case against the US sought due to lack of jurisdiction.