According to EU rules, anyone who invests in nuclear power plants or gas infrastructure is doing something good for the climate. Many people see it differently and complain. Now music is entering the dispute before Europe’s highest court.
The legal dispute between Austria and the EU Commission over the classification of nuclear power and gas as climate-friendly is entering its hot phase. Oral proceedings began before the European Court of Justice (ECJ) in Luxembourg and will continue on Tuesday. A verdict is expected in a few months.
The Alpine Republic had filed a lawsuit against the so-called taxonomy. The taxonomy is a kind of seal of quality for sustainable financial products. The classification system is intended to help companies and citizens identify climate-friendly projects and invest money in them.
Austria criticizes the fact that nuclear energy and fossil gas are classified as a significant contribution to adapting to climate change. Vienna accuses Brussels of “greenwashing”, i.e. labeling something as climate-friendly even though it isn’t. Several environmental organizations – including Greenpeace, the Association for the Environment and Nature Conservation (BUND) and the World Wild Fund (WWF) – also went to court against the EU’s classification of gas and nuclear power as climate-friendly. The proceedings are ongoing.
In a new report, Greenpeace demands that the relevant rules on gas and nuclear energy in the EU taxonomy should not further endanger the energy transition in Europe and should be declared null and void. “Europe is well advised to follow the recommendations of science and implement a successful energy transition that relies 100 percent on renewable energy.”
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Source: Stern
