MEPs, meeting in plenary in Strasbourg, approved on Wednesday the “
green
” label granted by the European Commission to gas and nuclear, two energy sources thus recognized as necessary to fight against climate change.
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The controversial text, presented in January by the Commission, classifies as "
sustainable
» certain investments for the production of electricity in nuclear power plants – which do not emit CO2 – or gas-fired power plants, provided that they mobilize the most advanced technologies.
This classification (known as a taxonomy) should help mobilize private funds for these projects.
This classification (known as taxonomy) should help to mobilize private funds in these projects.
It is part of the European Union's objective of carbon neutrality by 2050. Meeting in plenary session in Strasbourg, MEPs rejected a proposed veto against this project, by a majority of 328 votes (278 for, 33 abstentions ).
Recognition of the contribution of gas and nuclear to the fight against climate change, although based on expert reports, has aroused
greenwashing
”.
“dirty politics”
"
It's dirty politics and a scandalous result
", reacted Ariadna Rodrigo of Greenpeace, announcing that the NGO would seize, with others, the Court of Justice of the EU, the only way now to block the initiative.
The Austrian and Luxembourg governments had already come out in favor of legal action.
"
Neither gas nor nuclear power are sustainable
," said the Greens in a statement, saying that the EU label, hitherto reserved for renewable energies, had lost its credibility.
Inclusion of gas '
will delay the truly sustainable, desperately needed transition and reinforce reliance on Russian hydrocarbons
“, denounced on Twitter the Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, without mentioning nuclear power.
A few dozen environmental protesters waved banners Tuesday and Wednesday outside the European Parliament.
MEPs voted on a motion of objection, adopted on June 14 by the Economic Affairs and Environment parliamentary committees, synonymous with a veto against the text of the European executive.
Supported massively by the left, it was very largely rejected on the right, even if the subject divided the political families.
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“Strict conditions”
“
The fears are not justified.
Gas and nuclear are not put on the same level as renewables and strict conditions are included
,” said MEP Pascal Canfin (Renew, liberal).
The “ green
” label
for these two energy sources has already been approved by the Member States.
Only eight countries, including Germany, Austria and Luxembourg, expressed their opposition, far from the "
super-majority
" of twenty countries necessary to block the project.
The EU taxonomy "
gives priority to renewables and energy efficiency
", recalled Financial Services Commissioner Mairead McGuinness, who came to defend her text in Strasbourg.
However, it assures that renewable energies alone will not be able to meet the growing demand for electricity due to their intermittent production.
Hence the need, at least on a transitional basis, to also promote investment in stable and controllable resources such as gas and nuclear.
This position is also that of France, which wants to relaunch the atom, and of central European countries such as Poland, which must replace their coal-fired power stations.
The taxonomy "
is an essential lever for investing in (nuclear) carbon-free energy, essential for our future
", estimated François-Xavier Bellamy (EPP, right), welcoming a victory for "
reason
".
The European Commission welcomed the vote, saying that
determined to use all available tools to move (the EU) away from high-carbon energy sources
”.
“
No one is saying that gas and nuclear are green energies, but they are temporarily essential to the transition
”, argued MEP Gilles Boyer (Renew).
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