Hi John,
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We are so close to being able to celebrate a huge step forward for the climate.Â
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The climate-wrecking Energy Charter Treaty (ECT) is rapidly crumbling before our eyes. Much to the dismay of fossil fuel companies, who might very soon be blocked from using this deal to sue governments around the world for billions of pounds for policies designed to pull the brakes on climate change.Â
In recent months, country after country has announced that they are pulling out of the disastrous international treaty. Germany, France, the Netherlands, Spain, Poland, Slovenia, and most recently Denmark, are all taking a definitive stand for the climate by exiting the deal.Â
And the UK could be – and should be – next! Off the back of determined campaigning and public pressure, a wave of UK MPs across political parties are finally taking action and starting to apply pressure to the government to leave the ECT.
The most important thing we can do right now is keep up momentum and ensure MPs don’t let this one slip. We need to keep reminding them that to ensure any significant step forward for the climate, the UK needs to exit this trade deal.
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That’s why I’m reaching out today. If you’re able to, will you donate £5? Your support could pay towards hard-hitting research, informative parliamentary briefings, and meetings with MPs – all of which we urgently need if we want the UK to join the long list of countries doing the right thing and leaving the climate-wrecking trade deal.
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Our campaign strategy is clear. But we need your help to carry it out
At the end of last year we were able to push our campaign against the ECT to new heights when so many of our passionate supporters who share our vision for a more democratic and sustainable world donated to the campaign.Â
Since this campaign boost, the European parliament has voted for a coordinated withdrawal of all EU countries, and the European Commission is now formally recommending this. Meeting upon meeting desperately pushed by supporters of the ECT has been delayed or cancelled – almost everyone is leaving the sinking ship.
If the UK government finally gives in under the growing pressure from climate experts, environmental and trade organisations, fellow MPs and people like you and me, the UK’s exit from the ECT will be celebrated by tens of thousands of campaigners across Europe who have been working tirelessly to get rid of this toxic treaty.
And just like previous wins in South Africa, India and Ecuador have inspired our struggle against the ECT and given us hope, our success would spark a wave of further action against toxic trade deals and the corporate courts system around the world.
But the final fall of the ECT won’t happen unless we seriously increase our campaigning efforts. And we cannot do this without the extra financial support.Â
- We need more people on board with this campaign. £10 could help us promote online petitions to help pile the pressure on the UK government.
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- We need the public to know about the dangers of the ECT. £25 could help cover the costs of our new podcast focusing on dangerous trade deals.
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- We need MPs to understand how the ECT contributes to climate change. £100 could help us carry out in-depth research to brief MPs and hit the mainstream media.Â
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- We need to take our mobilisation efforts to the next level. £500 could help us collaborate closely with new groups and allies – internationally and nationally – to ensure more countries, including the UK, leave the ECT.
We understand this is a difficult time and not everyone is able to donate. If you are, any donation however small would count for a lot, as the majority of our campaigns are funded by people like you.Â
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What are the ‘Energy Charter Treaty (ECT)’ and ‘corporate courts’?
The Energy Charter Treaty (ECT) is an agreement between 50 countries specifically for the energy sector. At the core of the ECT, and many other similar trade deals, is the contentious ‘corporate court’ mechanism which allows foreign companies to sue governments in private tribunals, if they believe their profits have been affected by changes in government policy.
Using this corporate court mechanism in the ECT, fossil fuel firms are able to sue governments for billions of pounds, undermining governments' ability to implement effective climate policies, and slowing down or completely blocking efforts to transition to a low-carbon economy.Â
For example, German energy giant RWE sued the Netherlands over its coal phaseout, whilst UK company Ascent Resources is taking action against Slovenia over a ban on fracking.
But we can stop the climate-wrecking ECT. We are so close now. And we know public pressure can stop corporate court deals – it’s been done many times before! So if you are able to, help give the campaign the boost it needs to succeed by donating today.Â
Thank you for being part of the movement for a better world.Â
In solidarity,
Jean Blaylock
Trade campaigner at Global Justice Now
P.S. We need everyone on board to demand the UK stands up for the climate and leaves the dangerous Energy Charter Treaty. Your donation, however small, will make a difference.Â
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