‘Putin rubbing hands with glee’ after EU votes to class gas and nuclear as green
GuardianJul 06, 2022
On Wed., EU lawmakers approved a proposal that qualifies some natural and nuclear gas as "green," adding them to the EU's taxonomy rulebook - an investment guide on projects that align with the bloc's goal of climate neutrality by 2050.
The proposal was made earlier this year by the European Commission. However, last month, legislators rejected the plan.
This vote is hypocritical and misleading. The proposal goes against the EU Taxonomy's crucial goal of preventing greenwashing in the financial system, and will funnel billions into Putin's pockets whose war in Ukraine is being funded by investments in fossil fuels. The EU has been swayed by wealthy lobbyists and has now set the bar low for other countries.
The EU has taken a necessary step in reaching the member nations' climate-neutral goals. Not only is this decision crucial in attracting funding for renewable energy sources, but it also reveals that the EU rightly recognizes that both natural and nuclear gas is fundamental to the continent's energy stability - an example that others should heed.