The Council of Environment Ministers of the European Union has approved the EU’s Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (“INDC”) in anticipation of the COP 21 of the UNFCCC in Paris in December 2015. At COP 21, the UNFCCC contracting parties are expected to agree on a new international legal agreement on climate change to be
International Climate Efforts
The Road to Paris 2015: The European Commission Announces its Initiatives to Achieve a European Energy Union and an International Climate Change Deal
On February 25, 2015, the European Commission presented three communications on:
- a Framework Strategy for a Resilient Energy Union with a Forward-Looking Climate Change Policy;
- Achieving the 10% Electricity Interconnection Target: Making Europe’s Electricity Grid Fit for 2010; and
- The Paris Protocol: A Blueprint for Tackling Global Climate Change Beyond 2020.
These…
Nigerian Court of Appeal Allows Third Party to Challenge Arbitration Award
In the recently published Abuja Court of Appeal case of Statoil (Nigeria) Limited & Anor v. Federal Inland Revenue Service & Anor ((2014) LPELR-23144(CA)) (“Statoil”) dated 13 June 2014, the Nigerian court held that a third party had locus standi to challenge an arbitration agreement to which it was not a party.
This…
Geothermal Power in East Africa
Last week, London-based firm EnergyNet held its “Powering Africa Summit” in Washington. The Summit, opened by U.S. Secretary of Energy Moniz, attracted project developers, equipment suppliers, financiers, the U.S. Government’s Power Africa team, and African government officials. Unfortunately, due to the African Union Summit that was being held at the same time in Ethiopia, no…
Planning Ahead to Arbitration – Important Considerations for Investors
As foreign investment into Sub-Saharan Africa continues to grow, inevitably, so does the risk of disputes arising between commercial parties. The potential benefits of arbitration in settling a commercial dispute, including procedural flexibility and neutrality, are well known (read more from the ICC here). This post provides an introduction to the relevance of…
The Road to Paris 2015: Contrasting Media Perspectives on the US-China Accord on Climate Change and Clean Energy
As has been widely reported, on November 12 President Obama and China’s President Xi Jinping released a joint announcement on climate change and clean energy cooperation. Beyond the announced greenhouse gas emission targets—for the U.S., to reduce emissions 26-28% below 2005 levels by 2025; for China, (i) to peak CO2 emissions by around 2030, with…
The Road to Paris 2015: European Council Deal on Future Climate Change and Energy Policy
Last Thursday, the 28 Heads of State of the European Union meeting at the European Council reached a political agreement on the EU’s climate and energy framework for 2030. The compromise is intended to send a signal in anticipation of the next United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (“UNFCCC”) Conference of Parties scheduled for…
Solar Investment Booms in Sub-Saharan Africa
According to the U.S. Agency for International Development, two out of three sub-Saharan Africans, approximately 600 million people, do not have access to electricity, instead relying on costly, environmentally unfriendly, and unhealthy forms of energy such as diesel generators and kerosene lamps and stoves. With many sub-Saharan African countries receiving a high number of…
With Billions in New Pledges, Power Africa Gains More Power
A little over a year after President Obama first announced Power Africa, the Administration has released thePower Africa Annual Report. According to the Annual Report, the initiative has “helped facilitate the financial close of transactions which expect to produce nearly 2,800 MW of new generation capacity — more than 25% of the…
NEPAD Summit Introduces Flagship Infrastructure Projects Just Before The Anticipated U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit
From June 14-15, African leaders, businesses and investors gathered for the Dakar Finance Summit for Africa’s Infrastructure–organized by the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD)–to discuss the financing of major national and regional infrastructure projects. The Summit’s hallmark feature was the creation of theDakar Agenda for Action (DAA), which acknowledges African states’ desire…