Export Credit Agencies (ECAs) are
key institutions governments employ
to support private companies doing
business overseas. ECAs offer a wide
range of guarantees and insurances
to private companies. This makes it
easier for these companies to gain
access to finance, mostly from banks.
Based on publicly available data,
this report concludes that the Dutch Export credit agency Atradius DSB, which provides export
insurances on behalf of the Dutch
state, insured fossil fuel-related projects
with a total value of € 7.3 billion in the
period 2012-2015. This is two-thirds
of its total insured value for that same
period.
Dutch public export insurances heavily
support the fossil fuel industry, thus
making investments in the prolonging
of a fossil fuel-based future financially
attractive for private companies and
banks. This reality stands in stark
contrast to the commitments made
under the Paris Agreement.
