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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.
OPL245 scandal: Coalition urges World Bank group not to protect oil giants
23-Nov-2020 Premium Times
The groups said they are concerned about the ICSID’s long-standing failure to promulgate clear rules for addressing cases where corruption has been alleged.
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.
The secret tribunal
19-Oct-2020 Drilled
Expert Marcos Orellana walks us through the shadowy arbitration system, the Chevron case in particular, and what it all means for global climate action.
OPL 245: Nigeria must resist Eni’s legal bullying, says group
19-Oct-2020 The Cable
The Human and Environmental Development Agenda, Re:Common, Global Witness, and Corner House, have called on the Nigerian government to stand against Eni’s legal move over the oil processing license (OPL) 245.
Eni seeks World Bank arbitration in Nigeria oilfield dispute
14-Oct-2020 Reuters
Eni plans to argue that the country’s failure to allow it to exploit an oilfield it acquired with Royal Dutch Shell nearly a decade ago breaches their investment agreement.
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.
Cairn seeks $1.4 bn damages from govt
30-Sep-2020 Live Mint
Cairn is seeking full restitution for losses resulting from the expropriation of its investments in India in 2014.
Vodafone  ruling may set precedent  for other cases
28-Sep-2020 livemint
Vodafone Group Plc’s big win against the Indian government could set a precedent for similar arbitration cases, including the one initiated by Cairn Energy Plc.
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.
Hague court rules in favor of Chevron in dispute with Republic of Ecuador
17-Sep-2020 Nasdaq
The District Court of The Hague ruled in favor of Chevron in its dispute with the Republic of Ecuador, upholding a 2018 arbitral award rendered by an international tribunal administered by the Permanent Court of Arbitration.
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
‘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.