Responding to the news that the UK is withdrawing from a controversial international agreement called the Energy Charter Treaty, which allows investors to sue governments that adopt policies which interfere with their investments, Kierra Box, campaigner at Friends of the Earth, said:

“Leaving this incredibly flawed treaty is a brilliant win for our environment and the climate, and a sensible move as European governments exit the agreement in ever greater numbers – citing risks to their sovereignty and climate progress.

“Future UK governments will now have more freedom to take ambitious action to protect our planet, without the threat of being sued for millions of pounds by companies based overseas.

“But the problem doesn’t end there – similar mechanisms still exist within other treaties, enabling  overseas investors to sue governments in tens of nations around the world, including the UK. To truly safeguard our planet, we need to rid ourselves all of agreements that prioritise the business interests of a few wealthy shareholders above our collective future.”