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title: The Climate Frontline - Real stories, insights, and hopeful news from the world of environmental policy
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What do you think are some of the implications of states withdrawing from the Energy Charter Treaty? Join the debate and connect with other public servants.

| View in browser The Climate Frontline is a monthly newsletter that celebrates the people and policies making a difference in climate. It is brought to you by the Government Climate Campus, Apolitical's learning hub for connecting public servants with the tools and training they need to address the climate crisis. Every issue we bring you the freshest debates and updates in environmental policy to inform and inspire you. Go to the Government Climate Campus Redefining energy governance: The great (ECT) exodus    For years, the Energy Charter Treaty afforded fossil fuel companies power and protection. Things might be about to change.    The 1994 Energy Charter Treaty (ECT) was signed by 53 countries to foster global cooperation on energy investment and trade. In reality, it serves as a powerful shield for the fossil fuel industry. One controversial feature of the treaty is the investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS), a secretive, legal mechanism that allows foreign investors to take governments to court if they believe their rights have been violated. In 2022, a tribunal ordered the Italian government to pay more than $260m in damages to UK oil and gas company Rockhopper over an offshore drilling ban.   It has become clear that the ECT is at odds with the goals of the Paris Agreement. Mechanisms like ISDS can also lead to regulatory chill, whereby the threat of lawsuits prevents governments from setting ambitious climate policies. The European Commission has made attempts to reform the outdated ECT since 2017, with little success. However, in a U-turn earlier this year, the Commission proposed a mass exit of its 27 member states from the ECT as the "unavoidable" option. For this to happen, the proposal would need the backing of at least 15 member states.   What do you think are some of the implications of states withdrawing from the ECT? What new agreements do you hope to see? Join the discussion and connect with other public servants on Apolitical. Join the discussion Climate concept corner Breaking down the jargon   Investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) - A form of arbitration that operates outside of domestic court systems and allows foreign investors to seek compensation for losses resulting from actions of the host country government (e.g. expropriation, offshore drilling bans). The fossil fuel industry is the most litigious industry, making up 20% of all ISDS cases. The average compensation awarded to fossil fuel companies is $600 million. Climate champion of the month Celebrating inspiring individuals in our community of public servants Sadhu Johnston Former City Manager of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada and Co-founder of the Urban Sustainability Directors Network  Sadhu was the City Manager of Vancouver from 2016 to 2021, where he led a budget of over $1.6B and 7,000 staff, and spearheaded initiatives to tackle the housing and climate crisis in the city. Prior to this, Sadhu served as the Chief Environmental Officer of Chicago and Deputy Chief of Staff to Mayor Richard Daley. In 2008, Johnston co-founded the Urban Sustainability Directors Network (USDN), which brings together local government sustainability practitioners to share best practices and accelerate climate action.   Know a public servant who deserves to be featured for their work? Share their contact details with us!  Nominate a climate champion Climate policy pulse Bringing you innovative solutions – and hope   China calls time on coal investments   Transitional finance isn’t just about backing climate solutions, it’s also about pulling funding away from harmful investments. In 2021, President Xi Jinping announced to the United Nations General Assembly that China was ending its construction and funding of international coal-fired power plants. This announcement will have a massive impact on the world's decarbonisation pathway, as China has historically been a major builder of, and investor in, coal-fired power plants. Since the announcement, 26 planned projects have been cancelled, and many more could follow. This pledge could withdraw up to $50 billion from the coal power market. It mirrors similar pledges from South Korea and Japan. Combined with China’s pledge, these policies could see a 95% reduction in foreign coal-power funding.   Like to see more inspiring solutions? Check out Apolitical's 100 Climate Policy Breakthroughs. Recommended Extra reads and resources to help deepen your knowledge  🙋‍♀️ Course: Communicating climate change (Free and newly launched!) - Apolitical   🎤 Event: How to weave sustainability goals into your role (16 May) - Apolitical    📝 Article: How to increase government accountability with green bonds - Carter Vance (Apolitical community post)   🎧 Podcast: Taking dirty energy to court with James Thornton and Dr. Tara Shine - Outrage + Optimism    🧰 Tool: The Decarbonisation Policy Evaluation Tool (DPET) - Innopaths     📗 Non-fiction: Ending Fossil Fuel Subsidies: The politics of saving the planet - Neil McCulloch   🌎 Fiction: The Overstory - Richard Powers 🎬 TV Series: Wild Isles - BBC Government Climate Campus 50,000 public servants cutting emissions 50% by 2030   The Climate Frontline is a Government Climate Campus newsletter, part of an ambitious partnership by Apolitical to connect public servants with the tools and training they need to address the climate crisis.   We need your help. Do you have a peer in the public service who would like to be involved in Apolitical’s Government Climate Campus?   Share with a colleague You're receiving this email because you've expressed interest in the Government Climate Campus. Was this forwarded to you? Get your free subscription to The Climate Frontline here. Copyright © 2023 Apolitical, All rights reserved. Apolitical, 251 Southwark Bridge Road, London, United Kingdom SE1 6FL Manage preferences |
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