EU nations quarrel over whether nuclear, gas are 'green' | The Business Standard
Skip to main content
  • Home
  • Economy
    • Aviation
    • Banking
    • Bazaar
    • Budget
    • Industry
    • NBR
    • RMG
    • Corporates
  • Stocks
  • Analysis
  • World+Biz
  • Sports
  • Features
    • Book Review
    • Brands
    • Earth
    • Explorer
    • Food
    • Habitat
    • In Focus
    • Luxury
    • Mode
    • Panorama
    • Pursuit
    • Wheels
  • Epaper
    • GOVT. Ad
  • More
    • Subscribe
    • Videos
    • TBS Graduates
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • COVID-19
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Tech
    • Magazine
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard

Sunday
December 03, 2023

Sign In
Subscribe
  • Home
  • Economy
    • Aviation
    • Banking
    • Bazaar
    • Budget
    • Industry
    • NBR
    • RMG
    • Corporates
  • Stocks
  • Analysis
  • World+Biz
  • Sports
  • Features
    • Book Review
    • Brands
    • Earth
    • Explorer
    • Food
    • Habitat
    • In Focus
    • Luxury
    • Mode
    • Panorama
    • Pursuit
    • Wheels
  • Epaper
    • GOVT. Ad
  • More
    • Subscribe
    • Videos
    • TBS Graduates
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • COVID-19
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Tech
    • Magazine
  • বাংলা
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 03, 2023
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

  • Countries promise clean energy boost at COP28 to push out fossil fuels
  • COP28: Calls for more nuclear and less 'destructive' methane
  • UN atomic chief backs nuclear power at COP28 as world reckons with proliferation
  • EU wants Bangladesh to act on labour rights as pledged
  • EU representatives meet CEC

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.

The Business Standard Google News Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel

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

  • Treasury bill interest rate tops 11%
    Treasury bill interest rate tops 11%
  • File Photo of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina
    PM to hold meeting with leaders of 14-party alliance tomorrow
  • Hundreds of AL independent nominations cancelled
    Hundreds of AL independent nominations cancelled

MOST VIEWED

  • Representative image
    5.5 magnitude earthquake jolts Dhaka, parts of country
  • Cox's Bazar Express started its first journey from Cox's Bazar to Dhaka at 12:40pm on Friday (1 December). Photo: Nupa Alam
    Man crushed by Cox's Bazar Express on debut journey
  • Representative image
    BCS admin cadres' organisation forays into luxury hotel business
  • Will Bangladeshi garment exporters be able to meet EU's upcoming standards?
    Will Bangladeshi garment exporters be able to meet EU's upcoming standards?
  • 5 renewable power projects on cards to counter global fuel price surge
    5 renewable power projects on cards to counter global fuel price surge
  • Collage of the Android Earthquake Alerts System screenshots posted on the social media on Saturday, 2 December 2023
    Here’s how your Android phone alerts you of an earthquake

Related News

  • Countries promise clean energy boost at COP28 to push out fossil fuels
  • COP28: Calls for more nuclear and less 'destructive' methane
  • UN atomic chief backs nuclear power at COP28 as world reckons with proliferation
  • EU wants Bangladesh to act on labour rights as pledged
  • EU representatives meet CEC

Features

Designed for utility, the D90 is a giant in comparison to other MG models and misses out on design elements which gives the other models their sporty stance. Photo: Akif Hamid

Maxus D90: Spacious, capable and practical

4h | Wheels
Maria Callas: Remembering the soprano diva on her century

Maria Callas: Remembering the soprano diva on her century

3h | Features
Photo: Touseful Islam

Last sip of coffee with cats: Bidding adieu to Capawcino

5h | Features
Jannatul Ferdous Ivy has written 11 books so far with the latest, a series of poems, being published this year. Photo: Noor-A-Alam

Jannatul Ferdous Ivy: Overcoming tragedy, excelling in life

14h | Panorama

More Videos from TBS

Euro champion Italy in 'Group of Death' with Spain and Croatia

Euro champion Italy in 'Group of Death' with Spain and Croatia

51m | TBS SPORTS
Mahiya Mahi, Dolly Sayantani and Hero Alam's candidacy canceled!

Mahiya Mahi, Dolly Sayantani and Hero Alam's candidacy canceled!

3h | TBS Stories
Doctors of bike engines

Doctors of bike engines

1h | TBS Stories
5 renewable power projects on cards to counter global fuel price surge

5 renewable power projects on cards to counter global fuel price surge

4h | TBS Insight
EMAIL US
contact@tbsnews.net
FOLLOW US
WHATSAPP
+880 1847416158
The Business Standard
  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Sitemap
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
Copyright © 2023
The Business Standard All rights reserved
Technical Partner: RSI Lab

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