European Parliament: nuclear and gas are sources of green energy

The European Parliament it rejected a proposed objection and consequently gave the green light to a choice of the Commission that cannot fail to be discussed. The classification of gas and nuclear power has been approved as green energy sources (with limiting specifications and criteria) and therefore among those that can receive public and private funding.

Technically the Parliament European Union rejected the proposed objection to the taxonomy, the classification of energy sources in this case contained in a delegated act of the European Commission. There were 278 voters for the rejection of the taxonomy, 33 abstentions and 328 against. The Greens, the Left and the Socialists were against, while the European People’s Party, with Forza Italia, Renew Europe, of which Italia viva is a part, voted with the conservatives and the right.

Six activities, three of nuclear and three of gas, are identified as acceptable for the green transition and therefore can receive public and private funding. The European Commission has chosen the net zero criterion, the elimination of carbon dioxide emissions by 2050. Without gas and nuclear power, this goal is impossible by that date because renewable energy sources could not cover what is now produced from fuels. fossils.

The activities identified for nuclear power are:
– research and development of technologies for the minimization of radioactive waste: for the Commission, deep geological disposal is the most advanced and feasible solution for the member states, the plants must be disaster-proof
– construction of new generation nuclear plants: the Commission will review the technical parameters for the best available technology starting from 2025 and at least every 10 years
-extension of the functioning of the current plants

The activities identified for gas are:
-production of electricity
-high-efficiency co-production of heat-cold and electricity
-production of heat-cold in an efficient district heating and cooling system

Gas plants must have limited emissions from 2031 onwards and the energy generated must not be able to be efficiently replaced by energy produced from renewable energy sources.

The Wwf Italy he said he will consider lawsuits against the norm. Greenpeace has already decided to take legal action against the European Commission following the inclusion of fossil gas and nuclear energy in the list of investments deemed sustainable by the EU. “The vote that gave the green label the green light for false solutions such as fossil gas and nuclear energy – which, in addition to not having solved its problems of safety, long-term waste management and atomic proliferation , requires much more financial resources and a very long lead time than renewables – it is in stark contrast to what it really would be in a historical moment like this, in which the effects of climate change – heat waves across Europe, droughts and tragedies like the one that occurred on the Marmolada glacier – have serious consequences on the life of all and all of us. This vote risks further slowing down the fight against the climate crisis, exposing people and the planet to increasingly extreme climatic events ».

Now it’s up to the Advise of Europe: if by Monday it does not reject the act, it will enter into force from January 1, 2023. Only 8 countries have expressed their willingness to speak out against the Commission’s choice and 20 are needed, representing at least 65% of the EU population . For the Commission, the taxonomy is a “pragmatic and realistic approach”.

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