Energy treaty update fails to address climate crisis, activists say

On Thursday, Extinction Rebellion activists delayed the start of treaty negotiations by about one hour. Photograph: Extinction Rebellion Deutschland/Reuters

Climate activists have said a deal to update a “dangerous” energy treaty has failed to make the agreement compatible with the urgency of the climate crisis.

After more than four years of talks, 52 countries and the EU on Friday struck a deal to “modernise” the energy charter treaty, a 1994 agreement that allows investors to sue governments for changes in energy policy that harm their profits.