Top Posts
Death toll from Mokwa flood rises to 153
Scientists say nearly 40% of the world’s glaciers...
Nigerian government seeks alignment of NDC climate action...
German court dismisses climate case against RWE
WHO Climate Change action plan approved
Report: World likely to breach 1.5°C limit in...
At Bonn climate talks, Brazil demands early deals...
Researchers warn Africa could face 113 million climate...
LAPO MfB launches tree-planting initiative to fight climate...
Stiell says new NDCs are about growth, antidote...
EcoNai Newsroom
  • Newsround
  • Nigeria
  • Africa
  • World
World

UK could quit ‘climate-wrecking’ treaty, minister announces

by admineconai September 3, 2023
written by admineconai September 3, 2023
582

UK’ energy minister, Graham Stuart, has said that the country could pull out of the international energy charter treaty if attempts to reform it fail.

The energy charter treaty (ECT) is a system of secret courts that enables companies to sue governments over policies that would cut their future profits. Companies are said to have sued over phasing out coal-fired power stations, ending offshore oil drilling and banning fracking, with some receiving large taxpayer-funded payouts.

According to re[ports, critics of the ECT include the European Union, which says staying in the treaty would “clearly undermine” climate targets. France, Germany, Spain and eight other countries have already said they will leave and the EU is also set to pull out en masse. The UK and Japan are the only major economies not to have committed to exiting the ECT.

The UK has been a “strong advocate” of reforming the treaty but the intention to leave it by numerous countries has created an impasse that if the reforms were not passed by November, the UK would consider withdrawal,” Stuart was quoted as saying.

Speaking further, he said “Rather than being stuck indefinitely with an outdated treaty, the UK wants to see an agreement on a modernised treaty as quickly as possible,” Stuart said. “In its current form, the ECT will not support those countries looking to make the transition to cleaner, cheaper energy sources and could even penalise our country for being at the forefront of those efforts.”

Read also: New UNICEF report shows children in 98 per cent of African countries at high risk of climate change impact

On his part, Cleodie Rickard, who is the trade campaign manager at Global Justice Now, said: “It is welcome to hear the UK is finally willing to review its membership of the climate-wrecking ECT. But putting off the decision until November looks like an attempt to keep the UK sitting on the fence.”

“The reform process to this treaty has failed,” she said. “Eleven countries are voting with their feet and exiting, meaning there is not enough support to get the so-called modernisation through. Rather than more dither and delay, the UK should be joining a co-ordinated withdrawal now to maximise the benefits of leaving this damaging deal.”

Recall that the UK’s official advisers, the Climate Change Committee, said in July that the UK should quit the ECT because “continued membership represents risks to both a timely climate transition and to the taxpayer”. ECT critics have estimated the compensation to fossil fuel companies could rise to more than $1tn.

Chris Skidmore, a former UK energy minister who led a net zero review for the government in 2022, said that the ECT was being “weaponised by fossil fuel companies in order to sue governments for introducing climate policies” and was a “threat to the UK’s net zero ambitions”.

Skidmore has also proposed an amendment to energy bill being considered in parliament next week requiring the UK to withdraw from the ECT.

Story was adapted from the Guardian.

Climate-wreakingMinisterTreatyUK
0 comment 0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
admineconai

previous post
New UNICEF report shows children in 98 per cent of African countries at high risk of climate change impact
next post
AfDB, Global Centre pledge launch of $1bn climate adaptation initiative for African youths

Related Posts

Scientists say nearly 40% of the world’s glaciers...

June 3, 2025

German court dismisses climate case against RWE

May 28, 2025

WHO Climate Change action plan approved

May 28, 2025

Report: World likely to breach 1.5°C limit in...

May 28, 2025

At Bonn climate talks, Brazil demands early deals...

May 23, 2025

Guterres raises alarm over rapid Himalayan glacier melt

May 17, 2025

Study shows two-thirds of global warming caused by...

May 8, 2025

Weather expert warns climate change to hit agriculture...

May 5, 2025

Trump dismisses authors of major climate report

April 30, 2025

New UN report shows Indigenous Peoples sidelined in...

April 25, 2025

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Newsletter

Subscribe my Newsletter for new blog posts, tips & new photos. Let's stay updated!

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin
  • Bloglovin
  • Vimeo

@2021 - All Right Reserved. Designed and Developed by Eco-Nai+

EcoNai Newsroom
  • Newsround
  • Nigeria
  • Africa
  • World