Brussels – EU wants to classify gas and nuclear energy as climate-friendly

The EU Commission wants to classify energy generation from natural gas and nuclear plants as climate-friendly. According to a draft regulation by the Brussels authority, which the AFP news agency received on Saturday, permits issued for new nuclear power plants should fall under the so-called taxonomy regulation by 2045 and construction should be subsidized accordingly. For new gas infrastructure, this should apply under certain conditions until 2030.

The taxonomy is a kind of classification of sustainable economic activities and is equivalent to a classification as worthy of funding and a recommendation to investors. The EU Commission had already presented the corresponding legal act in April. At that time, however, the authority left out the delicate question of assessing gas and nuclear energy. We should await further expert reports and evaluations.

“It must be recognized that the fossil gas and nuclear energy sectors can contribute to the decarbonization of the Union’s economy,” the Brussels draft paper now reads. The Commission has not yet officially presented the proposal. According to information from Brussels and Berlin circles, the draft was sent to the governments of the 27 member states on New Year’s Eve shortly before midnight for a consultation process.

According to the document, the “construction and safe operation of new nuclear power plants to generate electricity or heat, including for hydrogen generation, using the best available technologies” should be taxonomically compliant, i.e. sustainable and climate-friendly. Further requirements are provided for the long-term handling of radioactive waste, for example.

France in particular is urgently pushing for nuclear power to be classified as sustainable. Poland and other eastern countries are also urging the EU Commission to recognize nuclear power as climate-friendly. On the other hand, only a minority of the EU countries – Germany, Austria and Luxembourg – have so far taken a decision.

According to the draft, stricter rules are provided for the eligibility of new gas systems. For example, the new systems in question must always replace an old system that uses fossil fuels. It should also be demonstrated that the planned energy production could not also be achieved with a renewable energy source.

The previous federal government had insisted on the importance of natural gas as a transition technology towards climate neutrality. New Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s SPD continues to adhere to this. However, criticism comes from the ranks of the green coalition partner.

On the other hand, there is broad agreement on the rejection of the classification of nuclear power as sustainable. Federal Environment Minister Steffi Lemke (Greens) warned a few days ago with sharp words of a renaissance of nuclear power in Europe.

The consultation process that has now begun with the EU member states is expected to take around two weeks. In mid-January, the Commission will then present the final proposal, which may differ from the draft that has now become known. The Council of Member States and the EU Parliament then each have a right of veto.

There is already resistance in the EU Parliament: “The proposal by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is a step back,” criticized the Green MP Rasmus Andresen. «Atom and fossil gas are not sustainable.