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“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.
Energy Charter Treaty modernisation adopted, still undermines climate action
Even after modernisation, the ECT continues to undermine European and global climate policies.
Azerbaijan files arbitration claim against Armenia for violating Energy Charter Treaty
Azerbaijan filed a Statement of Claim with the Permanent Court of Arbitration against Armenia, as part of the international legal proceedings from February 2023, detailing Yerevan’s violations of Baku’s sovereign rights over its energy resources in the once-occupied territories.
Green colonialism in Western Sahara
Under Moroccan occupation, renewables projects are being used to reinforce dominance
Kenya’s energy goals could be jeopardised by foreign treaty, say experts
Critics argue that the ECT, designed to protect foreign investments, contains vague provisions that allow multinational corporations to sue governments for lost profits due to policy changes.
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.
ExxonMobil sues the Netherlands over gas field closure
The multinational disagrees with the decision that gas production in the Dutch province of Groningen will be shut down early.
Update on arbitrations against the Republic of Tunisia
The investors have determined a revised amount of US$503 million as the total claimed amount of the ICSID Arbitration
Investors sue Finland for attempt to curb power transmission prices
Investors in Finland’s largest power distributor Caruna are taking the Nordic country to arbitration, the Finnish foreign ministry said, due to the Finnish Energy Authority’s attempt to curb rising power transmission prices for ordinary consumers.
SAMIR case: Morocco, Corral Holdings file for rectification of ICSID ruling
The SAMIR affair, dating back to the refinery’s 2015 closure, has seen Morocco and Corral Holdings locked in a bitter dispute before the ICSID tribunal.
‘Expropriation threat’: Tanzania hit by $1.2 billion damages claim in bitter gas field dispute
Toronto-listed Orca Energy has hit Tanzania’s government with a US$1.2 billion claim
State lawmakers urge US exit from toxic ISDS mechanisms in trade deals
"Outdated trade rules like ISDS can pose a real threat to states’ sustainable energy initiatives and the good-paying jobs they create," said one lawmaker from Maine
Turkey ratifies free trade zone agreement with Ukraine
Turkey ratified the agreement on a free trade zone with Ukraine on Aug. 2, more than two years after the agreement was originally signed.
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.
Thailand ready to start free trade negotiations with EAEU
Thailand is ready to start negotiations on concluding a free trade agreement (FTA) with the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU).
UAE and Morocco finalize CEPA to boost goods and services trade through tariff cuts, regulatory reforms
The UAE and Morocco have finalized the terms of a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).
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.