EU quits energy investment treaty citing climate concerns 

Belgian European Union presidency said EU countries unanimously agreed to jointly quit an international energy treaty due to concerns that it protects fossil fuel investments and undermines efforts to fight climate change, Reuters reported. 

The 1998 Energy Charter Treaty (ECT) permits energy companies to sue governments over policies that harm their investments. In recent years, some companies have utilized this treaty to initiate billion-dollar lawsuits against measures to close or restrict fossil fuel projects.