EU nations quarrel over whether nuclear, gas are 'green'
Skip to main content
  • Home
  • Economy
  • Stocks
  • Analysis
  • World+Biz
  • Sports
  • Splash
  • Features
  • Videos
  • Long Read
  • Games
  • Epaper
  • More
    • COVID-19
    • Bangladesh
    • Infograph
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Thoughts
    • Podcast
    • Quiz
    • Tech
    • Subscribe
    • Archive
    • Trial By Trivia
    • Magazine
    • Supplement
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard
TUESDAY, MAY 24, 2022
TUESDAY, MAY 24, 2022
  • Home
  • Economy
  • Stocks
  • Analysis
  • World+Biz
  • Sports
  • Splash
  • Features
  • Videos
  • Long Read
  • Games
  • Epaper
  • More
    • COVID-19
    • Bangladesh
    • Infograph
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Thoughts
    • Podcast
    • Quiz
    • Tech
    • Subscribe
    • Archive
    • Trial By Trivia
    • Magazine
    • Supplement
  • বাংলা
EU nations quarrel over whether nuclear, gas are 'green'

Europe

BSS/AFP
22 January, 2022, 11:45 am
Last modified: 22 January, 2022, 11:52 am

Related News

  • EU welcomes Dhaka’s 'openness' to intl election observers at next polls
  • EU brands firm on human rights in supply chain: Expert
  • Ukrainian PM says EU disburses 600m euros to Ukraine
  • EU ambassador to UK says bloc won't change mandate in Brexit talks
  • Number of people illegally in EU grew 22% in 2021 - Eurostat

EU nations quarrel over whether nuclear, gas are 'green'

BSS/AFP
22 January, 2022, 11:45 am
Last modified: 22 January, 2022, 11:52 am
EU nations quarrel over whether nuclear, gas are 'green'

Hours before the window for lodging objections closes, EU environment and energy ministers meeting in France Friday differed sharply on a European Commission provision that would classify nuclear and natural gas energy as "sustainable".
 
The controversy pits countries led by France -- where nuclear generates a world-leading 70 percent of electricity -- against Germany, Austria and others in the 27-nation bloc.
 
Debate over the Commission's so-called "taxonomy" is not on the agenda of the informal, three-day talks in Amiens, but flared nonetheless.
 
In late December the European Commission unveiled a classification labelling investment in nuclear gas-based energy as sustainable, in order to favour sectors that reduce the greenhouse gas emissions driving global warming.
 
Nuclear power is carbon-free, and gas is significantly less polluting than coal.
 
Countries in the European Union had until midnight Friday to suggest modifications.
 
After that, the Commission -- taking these suggestions into account -- must "rapidly" publish a final text that will be definitely adopted four months later.
 
Passage in its current form seems more than likely: it would take a majority of deputies in the EU parliament or 20 of the 27 members states to derail it, and critical mass is lacking in both cases.
 
A letter to the executive European Commission from some European Parliament deputies protesting that the period for suggesting changes was too short has fallen on deaf ears.
 
And among EU member states, a dozen have backed France's position and the Commission's proposed taxonomy.
 
Many are central European nations looking to switch from carbon-intensive coal-fired power to natural gas.
 
"Nuclear is a decarbonised energy," French environment minister Barbara Pompili told journalists in Amiens.
 
"We cannot deprive ourselves of it at the same time that we need to very rapidly reduce our carbon emissions."
 
'A very bad signal'
 
Despite the strong headwinds, anti-nuclear resistance has not subsided.
 
"It is neither sustainable nor economic", countered Germany environment minister Stefan Tidow. "It is not a green energy."
 
Luxembourg and Austria have gone even further, threatening to take the case to court if nuclear is certified as sustainable, citing the risk of accidents and the as-yet unresolved problem of nuclear waste.
 
"It would be greenwashing," Luxembourg's environment minister, Carole Dieschbourg, told AFP.
 
"And it would send a very bad signal: it is not a transition energy, it takes too long," she added, alluding to the lag time for building nuclear reactors.
 
Her Austrian counterpart, Leonore Gewessler, said labelling nuclear power as sustainable will "undermine the credibility of the taxonomy" because it does not fulfil the legal criterion of "not causing damage to the environment".
 
The EU Commission has proposed a measure requiring financial products to specify what percentage of the activities financed involve nuclear energy, a transparency measure that would allow investors to steer clear if they wanted to.
 
Berlin has expressed reservations about joining Vienna and Luxembourg in a legal challenge.
 
"For now, we're working on our response, and when the Commission presents a new text we'll analyse it from a legal standpoint," said Germany state secretary for economic affairs and climate action Sven Giegold.

Austria has also objected to tagging gas as sustainable, with The Netherlands -- which backs the label for nuclear energy -- arguing "there is no scientific reason to include" gas.
 
Polish undersecretary of state for the environment Adam Guibourge-Czetwertynski disagreed.
 
"Gas replacing coal because there's nothing better in the short term, that makes sense," he said.

Top News / World+Biz / Global Economy

EU nations / EU / EU countries / Greenhouse gas / greenhouse gas emissions / Nuclear Power / Clean energy

Comments

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

Top Stories

  • Representative Photo: Pixabay.
    India to limit sugar exports in risk to global food prices
  • Muhammad Abdul Mazid, Former chairman, National Board of Revenue. TBS Sketch
    Revenue growth in FY22 only because import costs have surged
  • The road lanes of the Padma Multipurpose Bridge are scheduled to be inaugurated this year. Photo: Mumit M
    Padma Bridge to be opened to public on 25 June

MOST VIEWED

  • A representation of virtual currency Bitcoin and small toy figures are placed on computer motherboard in this illustration taken January 7, 2021. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/File Phot
    One in ten euro zone households owns crypto-assets: ECB survey
  • A view of the destroyed village of Moshchun, amid Russia's invasion, Kyiv region, Ukraine May 19, 2022. Picture taken with a drone. REUTERS/Leonardo Benassatto
    Russian diplomat in Switzerland says he resigns over Ukraine invasion
  • Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy attends a meeting with European Parliament President Roberta Metsola (not pictured), as Russia's attack on Ukraine continues, in Kyiv, Ukraine April 1, 2022. Ukrainian Presidential Press Service/Handout via REUTERS
    Ukraine is losing up to 100 lives a day in east: Zelensky
  • Poland's President Andrzej Duda shakes hands with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy during a joint news conference, amid Russia's invasion, in Kyiv, Ukraine May 22, 2022. REUTERS/Viacheslav Ratynskyi
    Ukraine, Poland agree on joint customs control to ease movement of people, goods
  • Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy attends a joint news conference with Poland's President Andrzej Duda, amid Russia's invasion, in Kyiv, Ukraine May 22, 2022. REUTERS/Viacheslav Ratynskyi
    Zelenskiy promises reciprocal rights for Poles in Ukraine
  • A view of the destroyed village of Moshchun, amid Russia's invasion, Kyiv region, Ukraine May 19, 2022. Picture taken with a drone. REUTERS/Leonardo Benassatto
    Ukraine rejects concessions as Russians attack in east and south

Related News

  • EU welcomes Dhaka’s 'openness' to intl election observers at next polls
  • EU brands firm on human rights in supply chain: Expert
  • Ukrainian PM says EU disburses 600m euros to Ukraine
  • EU ambassador to UK says bloc won't change mandate in Brexit talks
  • Number of people illegally in EU grew 22% in 2021 - Eurostat

Features

The balcony railings of the Boro Sardar Bari in Sonargaon. Made of cast iron, these railings feature vertical posts with intricate designs on top. Photo: Noor-A-Alam

The evolution of railing and grille designs

6h | Habitat
A Russian army service member fires a howitzer during drills at the Kuzminsky range in the southern Rostov region, Russia January 26, 2022. REUTERS/Sergey Pivovarov/File Photo

3 months of Ukraine war : Miscalculations, resistance and redirected focus

7h | Analysis
Musk is denying the sexual harassment allegation that surfaced this week. Photo: Bloomberg

Elon Musk’s crazily banal week 

1d | Panorama
Asus Zenbook 14 Flip OLED: A touch of brilliance to your life

Asus Zenbook 14 Flip OLED: A touch of brilliance to your life

1d | Brands

More Videos from TBS

Effect of commodity price hike on lower income people

Effect of commodity price hike on lower income people

2h | Videos
The story of an 8 thousand gramophone records collector

The story of an 8 thousand gramophone records collector

3h | Videos
How to maintain a good relationship with colleagues

How to maintain a good relationship with colleagues

7h | Videos
Why are Duranta TV shows popular?

Why are Duranta TV shows popular?

21h | Videos

Most Read

1
Tk100 for bike, Tk2,400 for bus to cross Padma Bridge
Bangladesh

Tk100 for bike, Tk2,400 for bus to cross Padma Bridge

2
A packet of US five-dollar bills is inspected at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing in Washington March 26, 2015. REUTERS/Gary Cameron
Banking

Dollar hits Tk100 mark in open market

3
Bangladesh at risk of losing ownership of Banglar Samriddhi
Bangladesh

Bangladesh at risk of losing ownership of Banglar Samriddhi

4
PK Halder: How a scamster rose from humble beginnings to a Tk11,000cr empire
Crime

PK Halder: How a scamster rose from humble beginnings to a Tk11,000cr empire

5
BSEC launches probe against Abul Khayer Hero and allies
Stocks

BSEC launches probe against Abul Khayer Hero and allies

6
The reception is a volumetric box-shaped room that has two glass walls on both the front and back ends and the other two walls are adorned with interior plants, wood and aluminium screens. Photo: Noor-A-Alam
Habitat

The United House: Living and working inside nature

The Business Standard
Top
  • Home
  • Entertainment
  • Sports
  • About Us
  • Bangladesh
  • International
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
  • Contact Us
  • Economy
  • Sitemap
  • RSS

Contact Us

The Business Standard

Main Office -4/A, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka- 1000

Phone: +8801847 416158 - 59

Send Opinion articles to - oped.tbs@gmail.com

For advertisement- sales@tbsnews.net

Copyright © 2022 THE BUSINESS STANDARD All rights reserved. Technical Partner: RSI Lab