On 17 November, Global Justice Now handed in a 120,000-strong petition to Number 10 Downing Street, demanding the UK leave the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT).
The treaty allows foreign fossil fuel companies to sue governments for taking climate action – using corporate courts outside their national legal systems. Firms can get massive payoffs or pressure governments to back down.
A Jersey-based oil-refining company is suing the EU, Germany and Denmark under the ECT for at least €95m over the imposition of a windfall tax, according to Global Justice Now.
The UK set a November deadline for the ECT to be ‘modernised’ – which has not happened. Therefore, Britain should leave the treaty, as the EU is apparently considering doing. More info: www.globaljustice.org.uk