1,000 signatures reached
To: European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)
No public money for the Euro-Caspian Mega Pipeline
The EBRD, one of the world’s largest development banks, is planning to lend $500 million to the Russian oil company Lukoil to pump gas through the Euro-Caspian Mega Pipeline –- a huge project that would lock Europe into fossil fuels for at least the next 35 years
The EBRD will decide on 22 July whether to approve the loan or not. If approved, the money will be used to exploit a gas field off the coast of Azerbaijan in the Caspian Sea. The gas extracted will be pumped 4,000 kms to Italy and, when extracted, will put over a billion tonnes of CO2 into the atmosphere by 2048 By lending to the Euro-Caspian Mega Pipeline the EBRD would be hurting human rights and the climate.
We, the undersigned, call on the EBRD to reject any loans for companies involved with the Euro-Caspian Mega Pipeline on 22 July.
The EBRD will decide on 22 July whether to approve the loan or not. If approved, the money will be used to exploit a gas field off the coast of Azerbaijan in the Caspian Sea. The gas extracted will be pumped 4,000 kms to Italy and, when extracted, will put over a billion tonnes of CO2 into the atmosphere by 2048 By lending to the Euro-Caspian Mega Pipeline the EBRD would be hurting human rights and the climate.
We, the undersigned, call on the EBRD to reject any loans for companies involved with the Euro-Caspian Mega Pipeline on 22 July.
Why is this important?
Last week, as the European Games begin in Baku, I was detained in Azerbaijan for speaking out against the fossil fuel funded Azeri regime. I was lucky, I was released. There are over 100 people facing years in Azeri jails - activists, journalists, filmmakers, academics and lawyers - anyone who criticises the regime.
People like Rasul Jafarov. Rasul is a young, charismatic activist who founded the Sport for Rights campaign. He planned highlight the number of political prisoners in Azerbaijan during the Games, however a few weeks after starting the campaign Rasul himself became a political prisoner.
The Euro-Caspian Mega Pipeline will keep the repressive Aliyev regime in power by ensuring that fossil fuel revenues keep flowing to the country's ruling elite. The EBRD's loan to Lukoil will further entrench the Aliyev regime, buying them influence and money and making it making it even harder for those organising for democracy in Azerbaijan.
The Euro-Caspian Mega Pipeline is also a disaster for the climate. It will lock Europe into fossil fuels for the next fifty years and pump over 2 billion tonnes of CO2 into the atmosphere. If Europe is to avert the worst impacts of climate change, both at home and elsewhere, we must stop this pipeline.
On 22 July the EBRD needs to say no to funding the Euro-Caspian Mega Pipeline and send a signal to the growing resistance along the route of the pipeline that the era of fossil fuels is coming to an end.
People like Rasul Jafarov. Rasul is a young, charismatic activist who founded the Sport for Rights campaign. He planned highlight the number of political prisoners in Azerbaijan during the Games, however a few weeks after starting the campaign Rasul himself became a political prisoner.
The Euro-Caspian Mega Pipeline will keep the repressive Aliyev regime in power by ensuring that fossil fuel revenues keep flowing to the country's ruling elite. The EBRD's loan to Lukoil will further entrench the Aliyev regime, buying them influence and money and making it making it even harder for those organising for democracy in Azerbaijan.
The Euro-Caspian Mega Pipeline is also a disaster for the climate. It will lock Europe into fossil fuels for the next fifty years and pump over 2 billion tonnes of CO2 into the atmosphere. If Europe is to avert the worst impacts of climate change, both at home and elsewhere, we must stop this pipeline.
On 22 July the EBRD needs to say no to funding the Euro-Caspian Mega Pipeline and send a signal to the growing resistance along the route of the pipeline that the era of fossil fuels is coming to an end.