One of the innovate policy proposals discussed during the event was the concept of “climate debt,” the idea that rich countries owe reparations to poor countries for the climate crisis. “It was always clear that the power of the argument was less in its likely applicability and more in turning the idea of debt on its head, showing that rather than the poor being in debt to the rich as we... Read more
Del 30 de noviembre al 11 de diciembre se reúne en París la 21ª. Conferencia de las Partes de la Convención de Naciones Unidas sobre Cambio Climático (COP21, CMNUCC), en la que se anuncia un nuevo acuerdo global para combatirlo. En otro artículo explico que esto no es lo que sucederá en realidad.... Read more
“Como consecuencia de los ataques de París, muchas protestas y manifestaciones de la sociedad civil han sido canceladas o reducidas, lo que hace todavía más difícil para los ciudadanos y movimientos sociales hacerse oír”, denunció la ONG en el comunicado.... Read more
Public discussion organised by the Seattle to Brussels Network and its members Corporate Europe Observatory, Friends of the Earth Europe & Transnational Institute
A public discussion with:
The Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) is a mechanism that allows foreign investors to sue governments in private tribunals for lost profits, when changes in laws and regulations of the host country affect their profits. While it is common for trade and investment agreements to include special rights for foreign investors, these have become very controversial. Past experiences have shown that investors have not hesitated to use these special privileges to challenge public interest policies, including environment and climate protection measures.
A few weeks ahead of the start of the international climate talks in Paris (COP 21), the outlook is pretty grim, with low expectations in terms of governments’ commitments (especially in developed countries) to address the challenge of climate change. In the context of the ongoing EU-US trade talks and other major trade agreements in the making (including the Transpacific Partnership), concerns have been raised that trade provisions such as ISDS could be used to undermine future environment protection initiatives and climate action even further.
Professor Gus van Harten, a world-renowned international investment law professor, will present the findings of his recent report "An ISDS carve-out to support action on climate change”. Van Harten’s recommendation to exclude any possibility to challenge climate related measures from any future multilateral agreement on climate change was recently taken over by the European Parliament in its resolution on the International Climate Agreement in Paris.
Refreshments will be served after the event.
RSVP by 10th November and further information at: natacha.cingotti@foeeurope.org
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Shop in the Dark Sale - The extended period without electricity, as a result of Hurricane Sandy, is impacting businesses in the local area. / Photo credit John / FlickrFor anyone interested in US leadership on climate change, the Democratic debates last week were a welcome relief from the freak show of the Republican alternative. At least no-one pretended that there’s no such thing as man-made... Read more
The Indian government has attracted widespread opprobrium for cracking down on environmental non-governmental organisations like Greenpeace, maligned for obstructing “development” (read, ecologically destructive growth). But not many noticed its hostile actions against other international NGOs focused on climate issues, particularly coal: Bank Information Centre (which ecologically monitors the... Read more
