Parliament has thus approved the proposal from the European Commission to include certain cases of gas and nuclear power in the EU taxonomy. This taxonomy shows what industries and industries the EU considers to be sustainable in terms of climate and environment. – This means that energy companies that operate with gas and nuclear power can get loans from banks that are engaged in green investments. This will make it easier for these companies to finance their activities in the future. This is what Lars Gulbrandsen, research leader for climate and energy policy at Fridtjof Nansen’s institute, says. These companies will thus gain an advantage over, for example, coal companies, which have a higher CO 2 emission than gas and nuclear power. The nuclear power plant near Leibstadt in Switzerland. Nuclear power is very controversial in parts of Europe, says Gulbransen. Photo: ARND WIEGMANN / Reuters MDG: – Unfortunate signal The proposal passed by Parliament today is about removing gas and nuclear power from the list of sustainable investments. 278 representatives voted in favor of the proposal, 328 representatives voted against, and 33 abstained. Deputy leader of the Green Party (MDG), Arild Hermstad, says the party is disappointed that the proposal was voted down. – It sends an unfortunate signal to the outside world, because this can contribute to prolonging dependence on fossil energy in the EU, says Hermstad to news. Gas power plant in Berlin, Germany. Energy prices in Europe have risen sharply since the war in Ukraine broke out. Photo: Michael Sohn / AP He believes that the classification of gas as a sustainable investment can lead to the EU not meeting our climate goals. On the other hand, he does not think this is a saying for oil and gas companies. – The good news here is that the EU has set very strict requirements for approving gas-fired power plants in its taxonomy. This means that this will not contribute to any major investment in gas on the part of the EU. – In the long term, the job is to phase out fossil fuels and bring in renewables, says Hermstad. MDG co-owner, Arild Hermstad. Photo: Heidi Fjørtoft Klokk / news Mixed reactions in Denmark In Denmark, which is a member of the EU, several politicians are dissatisfied with the decision, reports DR. Both politicians from the Social Democrats, the Socialist People’s Party and the Danish Liberal Party believe that the decision is a defeat for the climate. EU parliamentarian for the Danish Conservatives, Pernille Weiss, on the other hand, is satisfied with the result. She believes that both natural gas and nuclear power are a necessary step on the road to climate neutrality. The rules will apply from 2023, unless 20 of the 27 member states vote against. Members of the European Parliament vote on whether the EU should have gas and nuclear power on the list of sustainable investments at its meeting in Strasbourg. Photo: Jean-Francois Badias / AP Better reserve power than coal Gulbrandsen thinks gas will be on the list, because it leads to less emissions than the alternative. – If you can not use gas, you have to use coal, and it is much more polluting and has much larger CO 2 emissions than gas. Renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power, are not as stable energy sources as fossil fuels for natural reasons. – When the sun does not shine and the wind does not blow, one is dependent on reserve power to balance out, so that one has available energy. Until the renewable energy network is fully developed, one is therefore dependent on alternative and more stable sources of energy. Gulbrandsen at Fridtjof Nansen’s institute also believes it is related to the situation between Europe and Russia at the moment. The coal power plant in Mellach in Austria recently reopened, two years after it was closed for fear of a lack of gas supplies from Russia. Photo: JOE KLAMAR / AFP If the gas supply from Russia is cut out, it will be easier to switch to coal, if there is no incentive that makes gas more favorable. Nuclear power is also a controversial topic in several European countries. Although the energy source is climate neutral when it comes to CO emissions, people are skeptical about nuclear waste and the safety risk associated with radioactivity and accidents.
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EU counts gas and nuclear power as sustainable investments – news Urix – Foreign news and documentaries
