Posted on March, 03 2015

Brussels, Belgium - The thirty-four member countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) meeting tomorrow will discuss ending public ‘export credits’ for funding overseas coal plants. The European Union countries making up almost two-thirds of OECD membership have failed to come up with a common position ahead of the talks. The split in the EU position throws into question whether the OECD Export Credit Group will be able to keep to its timetable of reaching a common agreement by its planned June meeting target date.

 
“The EU is failing to take a policy lead on ending public support for unabated coal plants overseas,” said Sebastien Godinot from WWF European Policy Office. “Member states are completely divided – some are complaining that the EU position going into the talks is too weak, others that the EU position is too stringent.  Europe’s climate targets meanwhile are in danger of being ignored.”
 
This lack of an EU common position comes against a background where there is relatively limited support from most EU countries for overseas coal plants. Recently obtained OECD data show that in the last eleven years, only Germany and France were major supporters in the EU. The remaining EU countries provided little or no support for coal plant exports. The justification advanced by some countries that export credits help promote more efficient coal technologies is also shown to be false. The OECD data reveal that taxpayer support largely benefitted the most polluting coal plant technology and not the most efficient.
 
“EU countries are failing to show leadership on this issue. In particular, countries including Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden and the UK haven't so far made their position clear and public”, added Sebastien Godinot. 
 
“Nine months before the UN climate negotiations in Paris, it is time for these countries to explain publicly if they will respect their climate commitments or continue business as usual funding for out of sight, out of mind overseas coal plants.  Climate commitments and engagement to phase out fossil fuel subsidies should immediately lead EU countries to let the OECD move forward in taking a leadership position in ending out of date export credits for dirty technologies.”
 
Ends
 
Contact:
 
Sebastien Godinot
Economist
WWF European Policy Office
sgodinot@wwf.eu 
+32 2 740 09 20
 
Audrey Gueudet
Climate & Energy Media and Communication Officer
WWF European Policy Officer
agueudet@wwf.eu
Phone: +32 2 743 88 06  
Mobile: + 32 494 03 20 27