On Saturday, Germany condemned the European Commission’s plans to include nuclear energy and natural gas in its long-awaited green labelling system to boost investment in the energy sector. Economy and Climate Protection Minister and German Vice-Chancellor Robert Habeck, and Environment Minister Steffi Lemke, both from the Green Party, criticised the Commission’s plans and said Berlin would not back the proposed scheme.
Different shades of green…🤔
— Syed Akbaruddin (@AkbaruddinIndia) January 3, 2022
EU plans to label nuclear & natural gas green…
Has implications for many, including India. https://t.co/04BudrrZBf
Habeck said the plan “waters down the good label for sustainability”, adding that, “From our point of view, it would not have needed this addition to the taxonomy rules. We do not see approval of the new proposals.” He also said that it is doubtful that financial markets would accept this “greenwashing.”
Likewise, Lemke said, “I think it is absolutely wrong that the European Commission intends to include nuclear power in the EU taxonomy for sustainable economic activities.” She further argued that nuclear energy could have a devastating environmental impact and leave enormous quantities of hazardous radioactive waste.
The Commission’s proposal is a part of a taxonomy list that intends to channel billions of euros in investment into technology to build clean power plants and decarbonise the European economy. The Commission sent the draft proposal to the EU members on Friday, highlighting the crucial role natural gas and nuclear energy sectors could play in decarbonising the bloc’s economy.
The draft proposal stated: “Nuclear plants should be considered sustainable if the host country can ensure they cause no significant harm to the environment, which includes safe disposal of nuclear waste. This applies to all new nuclear installations for which the construction permit has been issued by 2045.” In addition, the text mentioned that natural gas could also be considered green for a limited period to allow natural gas producers to attract private investment, provided specific criteria are met.
France and Poland are pushing for the inclusion of nuclear energy in the taxonomy list, saying it is a crucial low-carbon technology needed to provide energy security to the bloc as it transitions to renewable energy in the coming years. On the contrary, Germany, Austria, and Luxembourg oppose the proposal due to concerns about nuclear waste and accidents. Meanwhile, supporters of natural gas argue that nuclear energy is cleaner than coal and should be used as a transition fuel. However, opponents feel the proposal undermines the EU’s green targets.
The European Commission and the European Parliament will now weigh in on the draft act before taking a final decision, which is expected early next year.
Following the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant disaster in 2011, Germany permanently shut down eight of its 17 nuclear reactors and is on course to completely phase out nuclear power by the end of 2022.