Sebastian Bechtel
@sbechtel.bsky.social
Environmental Democracy Lead @ClientEarth. Tweeting mostly on #AarhusConvention, environmental litigation and EU law/policy. Views my own.
Reposted by Sebastian Bechtel
#BehindTheScenes
#AarhusPRTRsMoPs delegates greet Ella Behlyarova, UNECE #AarhusConvention Secretary, as she celebrates her birthday.
#AarhusPRTRsMoPs delegates greet Ella Behlyarova, UNECE #AarhusConvention Secretary, as she celebrates her birthday.
November 18, 2025 at 9:57 AM
#BehindTheScenes
#AarhusPRTRsMoPs delegates greet Ella Behlyarova, UNECE #AarhusConvention Secretary, as she celebrates her birthday.
#AarhusPRTRsMoPs delegates greet Ella Behlyarova, UNECE #AarhusConvention Secretary, as she celebrates her birthday.
Reposted by Sebastian Bechtel
Australia to introduce power cuts... no, wait, free power for 3 hours a day, as the solar boom has reached its, what's the new word?, abundance phase.
HT @volts.wtf www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11...
HT @volts.wtf www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11...
Australian households to get free electricity three hours a day
Saying there is enough solar power for everyone in the daytime, the federal government will direct retailers to provide three hours of free power every day to consumers.
www.abc.net.au
November 3, 2025 at 9:15 PM
Australia to introduce power cuts... no, wait, free power for 3 hours a day, as the solar boom has reached its, what's the new word?, abundance phase.
HT @volts.wtf www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11...
HT @volts.wtf www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11...
Reposted by Sebastian Bechtel
Great work by @lauramdubois.ft.com breaking out just how much European MEPs earn in their side jobs — side jobs that often overlap with policy areas they work on in parliament.
on.ft.com/4okX8MT
on.ft.com/4okX8MT
Scores of MEPs hold side jobs in sectors where they steer EU laws
[FREE TO READ] FT analysis identifies paid work that has not been declared as a potential conflict of interest
on.ft.com
October 13, 2025 at 7:44 AM
Great work by @lauramdubois.ft.com breaking out just how much European MEPs earn in their side jobs — side jobs that often overlap with policy areas they work on in parliament.
on.ft.com/4okX8MT
on.ft.com/4okX8MT
Reposted by Sebastian Bechtel
Watchdog report points to major failures in EU environment policy
Watchdog report points to major failures in EU environment policy
Despite cuts in emissions and cleaner air, the EU is on track to meet only two of 22 environmental targets by 2030, Europe's environment agency has warned
dlvr.it
September 29, 2025 at 4:53 AM
Watchdog report points to major failures in EU environment policy
Reposted by Sebastian Bechtel
My comment on @politico.eu. The European Commission's explanation for Ursula von der Leyen deleting messages on instant messengers “due to lack of space” sounds bizarre in 2025. Security is important. But so is public transparency for officials. www.politico.eu/article/dele...
Deleting texts to save space, Ursula? ‘It’s not the 1990s.’
Tech experts debunk the European Commission’s policy of deleting its president’s phone messages to “save space.”
www.politico.eu
September 26, 2025 at 6:28 AM
My comment on @politico.eu. The European Commission's explanation for Ursula von der Leyen deleting messages on instant messengers “due to lack of space” sounds bizarre in 2025. Security is important. But so is public transparency for officials. www.politico.eu/article/dele...
Reposted by Sebastian Bechtel
MAJOR UPDATE: Seven of nine planetary boundaries now breached – ocean acidification also in the danger zone.
Read the new Planetary Healthcheck 2025 report here: www.planetaryhealthcheck.org
Read the new Planetary Healthcheck 2025 report here: www.planetaryhealthcheck.org
September 24, 2025 at 4:16 PM
MAJOR UPDATE: Seven of nine planetary boundaries now breached – ocean acidification also in the danger zone.
Read the new Planetary Healthcheck 2025 report here: www.planetaryhealthcheck.org
Read the new Planetary Healthcheck 2025 report here: www.planetaryhealthcheck.org
Reposted by Sebastian Bechtel
📢We’re suing the French government for inaction on the Dieselgate scandal📢
10 years after the Dieselgate scandal broke, the French govt has failed to hold carmakers accountable. Evidence shows millions of vehicles likely have emissions-cheating devices: www.clientearth.org/latest/press...
10 years after the Dieselgate scandal broke, the French govt has failed to hold carmakers accountable. Evidence shows millions of vehicles likely have emissions-cheating devices: www.clientearth.org/latest/press...
September 17, 2025 at 9:02 AM
📢We’re suing the French government for inaction on the Dieselgate scandal📢
10 years after the Dieselgate scandal broke, the French govt has failed to hold carmakers accountable. Evidence shows millions of vehicles likely have emissions-cheating devices: www.clientearth.org/latest/press...
10 years after the Dieselgate scandal broke, the French govt has failed to hold carmakers accountable. Evidence shows millions of vehicles likely have emissions-cheating devices: www.clientearth.org/latest/press...
Reposted by Sebastian Bechtel
New research analyzing more than 3,000 tropical forest sites reveals that areas with fewer seed-dispersing animals store up to four times less carbon than forests with healthy wildlife populations.
The study found that 81% of tropical trees rely on animals to disperse their seeds.
The study found that 81% of tropical trees rely on animals to disperse their seeds.
Animals that spread seeds are critical for climate solutions
When a toucan plucks fruit from a tree in the Amazon Rainforest, it’s doing more than just finding lunch. Moving to a new location and depositing seeds via its droppings could be crucial in…
news.mongabay.com
September 21, 2025 at 1:10 AM
New research analyzing more than 3,000 tropical forest sites reveals that areas with fewer seed-dispersing animals store up to four times less carbon than forests with healthy wildlife populations.
The study found that 81% of tropical trees rely on animals to disperse their seeds.
The study found that 81% of tropical trees rely on animals to disperse their seeds.
Reposted by Sebastian Bechtel
If you live in BXL, you know the struggle: the never-ending traffic jams at rush hour, the badly-insulated flats, and your weather app's air quality index always looming on "Moderate".
This win means that the long-overdue clean-up of Brussels’ air can continue, protecting the health of everyone.
This win means that the long-overdue clean-up of Brussels’ air can continue, protecting the health of everyone.
September 12, 2025 at 2:17 PM
If you live in BXL, you know the struggle: the never-ending traffic jams at rush hour, the badly-insulated flats, and your weather app's air quality index always looming on "Moderate".
This win means that the long-overdue clean-up of Brussels’ air can continue, protecting the health of everyone.
This win means that the long-overdue clean-up of Brussels’ air can continue, protecting the health of everyone.
Reposted by Sebastian Bechtel
Portugal broke international law in the licensing process of Europe’s largest lithium mine without transparency. Now a UN ruling confirms what the locals said all along.
The Barroso mine still threatens water, biodiversity, and heritage. This fight isn’t just about lithium - it’s about democracy.
The Barroso mine still threatens water, biodiversity, and heritage. This fight isn’t just about lithium - it’s about democracy.
September 8, 2025 at 1:19 PM
Portugal broke international law in the licensing process of Europe’s largest lithium mine without transparency. Now a UN ruling confirms what the locals said all along.
The Barroso mine still threatens water, biodiversity, and heritage. This fight isn’t just about lithium - it’s about democracy.
The Barroso mine still threatens water, biodiversity, and heritage. This fight isn’t just about lithium - it’s about democracy.
Join us on 24 September at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel or online for a workshop on:
The EU & the Aarhus Convention: Taking Stock of Progress Towards Environmental Democracy
🔗 Register by 12 Sept: 2035legitimacy.fi/the-eu-and-t...
#AarhusConvention #EU #AccessToJustice #EnvironmentalDemocracy
The EU & the Aarhus Convention: Taking Stock of Progress Towards Environmental Democracy
🔗 Register by 12 Sept: 2035legitimacy.fi/the-eu-and-t...
#AarhusConvention #EU #AccessToJustice #EnvironmentalDemocracy
The EU and the Aarhus Convention – taking stock of the Union’s progress towards Environmental Democracy
The Aarhus Convention continues to be widely celebrated as a beacon of environmental democracy and has played a considerable role in advancing the notion of procedural environmental rights in the…
2035legitimacy.fi
September 10, 2025 at 7:16 AM
Join us on 24 September at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel or online for a workshop on:
The EU & the Aarhus Convention: Taking Stock of Progress Towards Environmental Democracy
🔗 Register by 12 Sept: 2035legitimacy.fi/the-eu-and-t...
#AarhusConvention #EU #AccessToJustice #EnvironmentalDemocracy
The EU & the Aarhus Convention: Taking Stock of Progress Towards Environmental Democracy
🔗 Register by 12 Sept: 2035legitimacy.fi/the-eu-and-t...
#AarhusConvention #EU #AccessToJustice #EnvironmentalDemocracy
Reposted by Sebastian Bechtel
⚡ ⚖️ 🌐 happening now: #ClimateLitigation court hearing in Zug, Switzerland 🇨🇭, in 𝐴𝑠𝑚𝑎𝑛𝑖𝑎 𝑣. 𝐻𝑜𝑙𝑐𝑖𝑚.
This civil law case seeks to hold one of the largest carbon major accountable for climate harms.
🧵 live reporting from the Court house, with summary of legal arguments and key elements of context👇
This civil law case seeks to hold one of the largest carbon major accountable for climate harms.
🧵 live reporting from the Court house, with summary of legal arguments and key elements of context👇
September 3, 2025 at 6:35 AM
⚡ ⚖️ 🌐 happening now: #ClimateLitigation court hearing in Zug, Switzerland 🇨🇭, in 𝐴𝑠𝑚𝑎𝑛𝑖𝑎 𝑣. 𝐻𝑜𝑙𝑐𝑖𝑚.
This civil law case seeks to hold one of the largest carbon major accountable for climate harms.
🧵 live reporting from the Court house, with summary of legal arguments and key elements of context👇
This civil law case seeks to hold one of the largest carbon major accountable for climate harms.
🧵 live reporting from the Court house, with summary of legal arguments and key elements of context👇
Reposted by Sebastian Bechtel
Civil society is the backbone of Europe’s democracy - driving participation, protecting rights, and pushing for climate and social justice.
The EU Civil Society Strategy is a unique chance to strengthen CSOs and democracy.
The D4T Coalition’s position paper shows how 👉 eeb.org/wp-content/u...
The EU Civil Society Strategy is a unique chance to strengthen CSOs and democracy.
The D4T Coalition’s position paper shows how 👉 eeb.org/wp-content/u...
September 3, 2025 at 1:02 PM
Civil society is the backbone of Europe’s democracy - driving participation, protecting rights, and pushing for climate and social justice.
The EU Civil Society Strategy is a unique chance to strengthen CSOs and democracy.
The D4T Coalition’s position paper shows how 👉 eeb.org/wp-content/u...
The EU Civil Society Strategy is a unique chance to strengthen CSOs and democracy.
The D4T Coalition’s position paper shows how 👉 eeb.org/wp-content/u...
Reposted by Sebastian Bechtel
💄The EU Commission is about to make it easier for toxic chemicals to end up in cosmetics and everyday products - and they only held industry-skewed "Reality Check" workshops about this instead of consulting the public.
Our reaction: ➡️ www.clientearth.org/latest/press...
Our reaction: ➡️ www.clientearth.org/latest/press...
August 20, 2025 at 8:32 AM
💄The EU Commission is about to make it easier for toxic chemicals to end up in cosmetics and everyday products - and they only held industry-skewed "Reality Check" workshops about this instead of consulting the public.
Our reaction: ➡️ www.clientearth.org/latest/press...
Our reaction: ➡️ www.clientearth.org/latest/press...
Reposted by Sebastian Bechtel
NEW -
Media Platforming and the Normalisation of Extreme Right Views - cup.org/4mmVIAL
"exposure to uncritical interviews increases agreement with extreme statements and perceptions of broader support in the population"
- @dianebolet.bsky.social & @florianfoos.bsky.social
#OpenAccess
Media Platforming and the Normalisation of Extreme Right Views - cup.org/4mmVIAL
"exposure to uncritical interviews increases agreement with extreme statements and perceptions of broader support in the population"
- @dianebolet.bsky.social & @florianfoos.bsky.social
#OpenAccess
August 12, 2025 at 9:05 AM
NEW -
Media Platforming and the Normalisation of Extreme Right Views - cup.org/4mmVIAL
"exposure to uncritical interviews increases agreement with extreme statements and perceptions of broader support in the population"
- @dianebolet.bsky.social & @florianfoos.bsky.social
#OpenAccess
Media Platforming and the Normalisation of Extreme Right Views - cup.org/4mmVIAL
"exposure to uncritical interviews increases agreement with extreme statements and perceptions of broader support in the population"
- @dianebolet.bsky.social & @florianfoos.bsky.social
#OpenAccess
Reposted by Sebastian Bechtel
Corporate lobbyists will weaponise European Parliament's plan for 'impact assessments'
Corporate lobbyists will weaponise European Parliament's plan for 'impact assessments'
Impact assessments have been used by the EU Commission for many years, but until now the European Parliament has been hesitant to introduce them. But this has changed now the EU has enthroned ‘competitiveness’ — ie deregulation and corporate profits — above all other considerations, plus a rightwing majority in the parliament, warns Corporate Europe Observatory.
euobserver.com
August 5, 2025 at 4:47 PM
Corporate lobbyists will weaponise European Parliament's plan for 'impact assessments'
Reposted by Sebastian Bechtel
It cannot be denied: this is a deliberate and coldly-calculated famine, engineered by a technologically-advanced state which knows exactly what it is doing.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...
The mathematics of starvation: how Israel caused a famine in Gaza
Israel controls the flow of food into Gaza. It has calculated how many calories Palestinians need to stay alive. Its data shows only a fraction has been allowed in
www.theguardian.com
July 31, 2025 at 3:38 PM
It cannot be denied: this is a deliberate and coldly-calculated famine, engineered by a technologically-advanced state which knows exactly what it is doing.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...
Reposted by Sebastian Bechtel
📣 BIG NEWS! The @ecb.europa.eu takes steps to green its monetary policy.
Read our press release to find out how. ⤵️
Read our press release to find out how. ⤵️
The European Central Bank updates its collateral framework to account for climate - Reclaim Finance
The ECB has today announced measures to integrate climate considerations into its collateral framework to address its support to carbon intensive companies.
reclaimfinance.org
July 29, 2025 at 1:47 PM
📣 BIG NEWS! The @ecb.europa.eu takes steps to green its monetary policy.
Read our press release to find out how. ⤵️
Read our press release to find out how. ⤵️
Reposted by Sebastian Bechtel
A study focused on why deforestation rates have slowed in Indonesia and the Brazilian Amazon revealed that political will was a critical factor, often as a result of pressure from civil society and diplomacy to conserve forests.
Where there’s political will, there’s a way to stop tropical deforestation, study finds
Political will is among the most important factors in preventing tropical deforestation, according to a group of experts surveyed for a new study — with strong political commitment often arising out…
news.mongabay.com
July 27, 2025 at 10:53 AM
A study focused on why deforestation rates have slowed in Indonesia and the Brazilian Amazon revealed that political will was a critical factor, often as a result of pressure from civil society and diplomacy to conserve forests.
Reposted by Sebastian Bechtel
🔥 ⚖️ 🌐HAPPENING NOW: Historic #ClimateJustice Ruling being delivered by the 🇺🇳 🧑⚖️ International Court of Justice.
🚨This ruling could signal a new dawn for climate law & accountability
📝 🧵 Live thread below with context, summary & analysis 👇
#ClimateJusticeAO #AOLetsGo
🚨This ruling could signal a new dawn for climate law & accountability
📝 🧵 Live thread below with context, summary & analysis 👇
#ClimateJusticeAO #AOLetsGo
July 23, 2025 at 12:49 PM
🔥 ⚖️ 🌐HAPPENING NOW: Historic #ClimateJustice Ruling being delivered by the 🇺🇳 🧑⚖️ International Court of Justice.
🚨This ruling could signal a new dawn for climate law & accountability
📝 🧵 Live thread below with context, summary & analysis 👇
#ClimateJusticeAO #AOLetsGo
🚨This ruling could signal a new dawn for climate law & accountability
📝 🧵 Live thread below with context, summary & analysis 👇
#ClimateJusticeAO #AOLetsGo
Reposted by Sebastian Bechtel
❓What has the European Commission’s EUR 1 billion Energy Support Package for the Western Balkans achieved?
❗We tried to find out, but could only trace EUR 163 million in worthwhile spending.
Read our new report: bankwatch.org/publication/...
#GAWBNavigator
#GreenAgendaNavigator
❗We tried to find out, but could only trace EUR 163 million in worthwhile spending.
Read our new report: bankwatch.org/publication/...
#GAWBNavigator
#GreenAgendaNavigator
July 23, 2025 at 8:30 AM
❓What has the European Commission’s EUR 1 billion Energy Support Package for the Western Balkans achieved?
❗We tried to find out, but could only trace EUR 163 million in worthwhile spending.
Read our new report: bankwatch.org/publication/...
#GAWBNavigator
#GreenAgendaNavigator
❗We tried to find out, but could only trace EUR 163 million in worthwhile spending.
Read our new report: bankwatch.org/publication/...
#GAWBNavigator
#GreenAgendaNavigator
Reposted by Sebastian Bechtel
🔴 New research reveals the best attack lines to use against Reform
👇👇
👇👇
New research reveals the best attack lines to use against Reform
How to stop Farage...
writesbright.substack.com
July 15, 2025 at 6:21 PM
🔴 New research reveals the best attack lines to use against Reform
👇👇
👇👇
Reposted by Sebastian Bechtel
In legal first, court rules Spain pig farm megapollution breached residents’ human rights
Landmark ruling says Spanish pig farm pollution breaches human rights
The community looks forward to its reservoir becoming ‘a place of life again’, where residents can walk, swim and drink without fear.
www.euronews.com
July 12, 2025 at 4:00 PM
In legal first, court rules Spain pig farm megapollution breached residents’ human rights
Reposted by Sebastian Bechtel
Freunde, #bluesky - Power, habt ihr dem #Kahlschlag an Beteiligungs- und Umweltrechten in #Brandenburg schon widersprochen? Wenn nicht, hier gleich noch machen, danke! #Verbandsklage #Demokratie cc @spiskol.bsky.social @s4f-bebb.bsky.social @campact.de weact.campact.de/petitions/de...
Demokratieabbau stoppen – Zivilgesellschaftliche Rechte in Brandenburg verteidigen!
Noch vor der Sommerpause des Landtages soll ein Artikelgesetz verabschiedet werden, das Beteiligungs- und Klagerechte der anerkannten Naturschutzverbänden deutlich einschränkt. Das Artikelgesetz strei...
weact.campact.de
July 11, 2025 at 8:11 PM
Freunde, #bluesky - Power, habt ihr dem #Kahlschlag an Beteiligungs- und Umweltrechten in #Brandenburg schon widersprochen? Wenn nicht, hier gleich noch machen, danke! #Verbandsklage #Demokratie cc @spiskol.bsky.social @s4f-bebb.bsky.social @campact.de weact.campact.de/petitions/de...
Reposted by Sebastian Bechtel
NEW: The European Investment Bank (EIB) lent €7 billion to dirty transport projects between 2021 and 2024 – including new roads and airport expansions – despite declaring itself a ‘climate bank’.
These loans undermine the EIB’s environmental and climate goals adopted in 2021.
🧵⤵️
bit.ly/44nELjf
These loans undermine the EIB’s environmental and climate goals adopted in 2021.
🧵⤵️
bit.ly/44nELjf
Maximising Climate Bank – EIB operations in sustainable transport
T&E's analysis of gaps and opportunities for the European Investment Bank’s transport lending.
bit.ly
July 10, 2025 at 8:46 AM
NEW: The European Investment Bank (EIB) lent €7 billion to dirty transport projects between 2021 and 2024 – including new roads and airport expansions – despite declaring itself a ‘climate bank’.
These loans undermine the EIB’s environmental and climate goals adopted in 2021.
🧵⤵️
bit.ly/44nELjf
These loans undermine the EIB’s environmental and climate goals adopted in 2021.
🧵⤵️
bit.ly/44nELjf