Austria is seeking support from other European Union countries in its legal action against EU rules that qualify investments in nuclear and gas power plants as climate-friendly, said the climate minister on Wednesday.
Anti-nuclear government, which has also criticized EU plans to label fossil fuel gas as green, has prepared legal action to challenge EU law adding fuels to 'taxonomy' system labeling of green investments.
“
We have several other states that have been very critical of the delegated act, and have spoken out.
So we will look for other allies in this legal action
said Austrian Climate Minister Leonore Gewessler.
Luxembourg already supports legal action
Gas and nuclear rules have been the subject of intense debate for a year, with EU governments deeply divided.
Last week the European Parliament approved the law, which Brussels says will help the EU switch to clean energy, but which campaigners say undermines Europe's leadership in the fight against climate change.
"
We are going to take legal action in the Court of Justice of the European Communities in order to prevent this greenwashing programme
," said Leonore Gewessler as she arrived at a meeting of European environment ministers.
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In its legal action, Austria will argue that neither fuel deserves the eco-label.
When burned for power, the gas produces emissions that warm the planet and fuel climate change.
But it emits less than coal, and some EU member states consider it a temporary solution to replace the most polluting fuel.
Nuclear energy does not emit CO2, but produces radioactive waste.
The lawsuit also seeks to determine whether Brussels had the power to pass rules through a "delegated act", a type of legislation that member states and European lawmakers can veto, but that they cannot modify.
MEPs grant the “green” label to nuclear and gas
Last week Mairead McGuinness, the EU's financial services chief, said the law would ensure that private investments in gas and nuclear met "strict criteria".
The European taxonomy does not prohibit investments in fuels that are not labeled as green.
Austria's complaint could be filed within a few months, after the law comes into force.