FSM requests a transboundary environmental review of the Czech Prunéřov coal plant and is granted “affected state” status.

What happened

The FSM, whose coastal communities already faced erosion and damaging high tides, asked the Czech government to weigh the coal plant’s effect on it before extending the plant’s licence. It was the first time a distant country, rather than a neighbour, made such a challenge. The Czech authorities gave the FSM “affected state” status and approved the plant with a requirement to offset 5 million tons of carbon dioxide.