Euro 2024 Round of 16 Matchups Set: France, Germany, and Portugal Advance The battle for the Euro 2024 trophy intensified over the weekend as the qualifying rounds came to an end, with several thrilling matchups set for the knockout stage. Three major football powerhouses emerged victorious, confirming their places in the Round of 16. France vs Belgium: Clash of Titans Undoubtedly one of the most highly anticipated matches of the round will be the clash between world champions France and European giants Belgium. Both teams boast exceptional talent, with France led by the brilliance of Kylian Mbappé and Belgium relying on the guile of Kevin De Bruyne. This encounter promises to be a tactical chess match and a spectacle for football fans worldwide. Germany vs Denmark: Teutonic Triumph Germany, four-time Euro champions, asserted their dominance with a comfortable win over their opponents. They will now face a tough challenge in the form of Denmark, a team that has impressed with its resilience and solid defense. The clash between these two footballing nations is expected to be a tight and competitive affair. Portugal vs Slovenia: Ronaldo’s European Farewell Portugal, inspired by their talisman Cristiano Ronaldo, sealed their qualification with a convincing victory. Slovenia, despite their best efforts, could not overcome the quality of the Portuguese team. Ronaldo, who is likely making his final appearance at a European Championship, will be eager to leave his mark on the tournament with another impressive performance. The Round of 16 matchups promise to deliver high-stakes football, with each team vying for a place in the prestigious quarterfinals. As the competition intensifies, the stakes get higher, and football fans around the world prepare for some unforgettable matches.Climate Litigation: Activists Target Financiers of Fossil FuelsClimate Litigation: Activists Target Financiers of Fossil Fuels According to a recent report from the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment, a growing number of lawsuits are being filed against entities that finance climate-damaging activities. Since the tracking began nine years ago, 33 cases have been documented questioning the flow of funding for such projects. Six lawsuits were filed in 2023 alone. Activists are using a variety of legal tools to hold public and private financial institutions accountable for their role in exacerbating climate change. They argue that by making capital more expensive for high-emission activities, such activities can be rendered economically unfeasible. One notable case is the challenge by Jubilee Australia against Export Finance Australia for providing financing to risky fossil fuel ventures. Jubilee Australia seeks to force disclosure of impact assessments for these investments. Catherine Higham of LSE points out that activists have broadened their targets to include commercial banks and lenders. Milieudefensie, a Dutch NGO, has filed a landmark lawsuit against Shell, alleging that Dutch bank ING contributed to climate change and violated legal obligations. Some claims have seen success. Jubilee Australia withdrew its case against Export Finance Australia due to compliance with environmental impact disclosure requirements. ANZ banking group ended a lawsuit after recognizing climate change as a material risk and announcing that it would no longer finance new or expanded oil and gas projects. BNP Paribas recently stopped financing new gas projects due to litigation risks. However, activists note that BNP continues to support fossil fuels through indirect loans and underwriting bonds. Lawsuits have also been filed outside of conventional courts. Complaints have been made to national contact points for the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), alleging violations of guidelines for responsible business conduct. Groups such as Greenpeace Luxembourg are challenging pension funds for alleged violations of environmental and human rights recommendations. The OECD guidelines, while non-binding, are increasingly influencing corporate behavior. UN human rights experts have issued warnings to governments about the responsibilities of financiers of Saudi Aramco, the world’s largest emitter. Legal campaign group ClientEarth has filed a complaint accusing Aramco of violating international human rights law. Indigenous owners in Australia have used internal complaints processes to target banks funding the Barossa gas project. Legal challenges have also been filed in Korea against public financial institutions supporting the project. Financial organizations are becoming aware of the risks posed by climate litigation. The European Central Bank has urged banks to implement credible transition plans aligned with the Paris Agreement.The UEFA Euro 2024 knockout stage is set following the completion of the qualifying rounds. France, the reigning world champions, will face Belgium in the round of 16. Both teams have been in impressive form and are expected to be among the favorites to win the tournament. Germany, another powerhouse in international football, will take on Denmark in the round of 16. Germany has a strong track record in the European Championship, having won the title three times, while Denmark will be looking to cause an upset. Portugal, the defending European champions, will face Slovenia in the round of 16. Portugal has a number of talented players, including Cristiano Ronaldo, and will be confident of progressing to the quarter-finals. Slovenia, however, will be no pushovers and will be hoping to continue their impressive run in the tournament. The round of 16 matches will be played on June 29 and 30, with the winners advancing to the quarter-finals.