The European Parliament (EP) rejected the motion against the addition of the so-called taxonomy regulation, which would have prevented certain activities of the gas and nuclear energy sectors from being considered sustainable from an environmental point of view, thereby allowing both energy carriers to enjoy the qualification of safe and clean energy sources, the EU Parliament announced on Wednesday.
According to the European Commission's proposal, private investments in the gas and nuclear energy sectors have a role in the green transition and contribute to mitigating climate change. On a temporary basis, under certain conditions and transparency requirements, it therefore allows certain activities of the industry to be considered environmentally sustainable.
328 MEPs voted against the European Parliament motion rejecting it, 278 MEPs voted for it, and 33 abstained. If neither the EU Parliament nor the Council representing the governments of the member states raises an objection to the commission's proposal by July 11, the regulation on taxonomy will enter into force on January 1, 2023.
In a statement delivered to MTI, the European Parliament group of Fidesz said: "we have preserved the security and affordability of the energy supply, we have protected the utility reduction".
Source: MTI/EPA/Julien Warnand
Austria is filing a complaint with the European Court of Justice regarding Wednesday's decision of the European Parliament, with which the plenary session of the EU representative body classified nuclear and natural gas energy as "green and sustainable" transitional energy sources on the proposal of the European Commission, announced the Austrian Minister of Environment, Energy and Innovation.
Leonore Gewessler wrote: "Especially in the light of the war in Ukraine, we cannot allow a green paint program to operate in the field of investments in nuclear and natural gas energy. The use of nuclear energy and natural gas does not contribute to climate protection."
The Austrian minister also indicated that Vienna is trying to gather additional member states to support the legal submission.
His Luxembourg counterpart, Claude Turmes, confirmed on Twitter on Wednesday that the Grand Duchy will also refer the case to the European Court of Justice.
2022plus: This Austrian is right, it would be much better to follow the German example. Down with the atom, long live the restarted coal power plants. Because they are so climate-friendly that, well! So? But anyway, why use energy for cooking, heating and all such calls. Instead of gas, let's go back to the wood-heated sparhelts (they're not enemies of the climate either, they barely fill the air with smoke), put on fur coats instead of heating, and if we're hot, strip down to pants. Better than gas or nuclear, right?
Renewable energy! Let's build wind farms and solar parks, that will solve everything. Of course, only if the sun is shining and the wind is blowing. If not, little rabbit…
On the side, we will reveal a secret: the production and eventual destruction of wind turbines and solar panels has significantly damaging "side effects", but who cares if you can talk vegetables. The vegetable is environmentally and climate friendly.
Only not those who theoretically serve a good purpose. Only very badly.
Source: MTI
Featured image: MTI/Szilárd Koszticsák
