The European Central Bank ( ECB ) has invested billions of euros in the automotive , gas and oil sectors through its quantitative easing programme , according to campaign group Corporate Europe Observatory . A commitment by the European Union to reduce carbon emissions by at least 80 % by 2050 could be threatened by the bank ’s asset purchasing scheme . The bank has purchased € ##500 ( $ 48.5 ) of corporate assets in companies including plc and Total since last June , a figure that could rise to € 126bn by next September . The ECB announced on Thursday that the scheme would be extended until 2018 .
The European Central Bank (ECB) has invested billions of euros in the automotive, gas and oil sectors through its quantitative easing programme, according to campaign group Corporate Europe Observatory. A pledge by the European Union to reduce carbon emissions by at least 80% by 2050 could be threatened by the ECB’s asset purchasing scheme. The bank has purchased €46bn ($48.5) of corporate bonds in companies including Shell and Total since last June, a figure that could rise to €126bn by next September. The ECB announced on Thursday that the scheme would be extended until 2018.