Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Trump: We want to feed the people in Gaza, we do not want them to starve.
US President Donald Trump: We will impose sanctions on Russia if it does not end the war on Ukraine.
Israeli media: Polls show that 52% oppose Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu while only 29% support him.
Israeli media: 32% of Americans still support "Israel's" war on Hamas, while 60% oppose it.
Israeli media: Core US support for "Israel" hits its lowest, while support for Palestine reaches its highest levels.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent reports martyrs, injuries in Israeli bombardment of home in Heker al-Jame area in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza.
Al-Quds Governorate: Today, the spatial division of Al-Aqsa Mosque began in a public and dangerous manner, and we warn of a religious war in the region
The Ministry of Health in Gaza: This brings the total number of victims of famine and malnutrition to 175, including 93 children
The Ministry of Health in Gaza: Gaza's hospitals recorded six deaths due to starvation and malnutrition in the past 24 hours, all of them adults
Informed sources to Al Mayadeen: A new chapter in relations between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency will begin within the framework of the new law passed by Parliament

EU credibility crippled by adopting gas, nuclear power as 'green'

  • Source: Agencies
  • 7 Jul 2022 15:54
3 Min Read

Opponents of this taxonomy call it "greenwashing".

  • x
  • EU climate credibility crippled by greenwashing lobby
    EU climate credibility crippled by the greenwashing lobby

The EU Parliament passed a bill Wednesday that made it possible to label fossil gas and nuclear power as "green" in the Commission's taxonomy, provoking an outcry from all European political groups. The Parliament adopted the European Commission's proposal first published on the 2022 New Year's Eve. The Greens opposed it, but also the Social Democrats (S&D), the radical left (GUE), some liberals (RE), and Christian Democrats (PPE). Going against the positions expressed by scientists, the majority of MEPs approved the greenwashing operation proposed by the European Commission in a 328-278 vote, with 33 lawmakers abstaining.

Opponents of this taxonomy call it "greenwashing". The gas, when burning, emits significant amounts of CO2. As for nuclear power, it is free of CO2 but generates waste for which no lasting solution exists.

Two parliamentary committees rejected this taxonomy. However, there was a majority in the plenary to approve it. This is explained by the fact that France and Germany, the two largest suppliers of deputies, are authoring this bill, the objective of which is to protect their national industries.

Related News

How corporations conquered the world: Corbyn

Shell's climate-friendly venture is just a facade: The Guardian

This classification seems surreal, but its scope must be put into perspective. The taxonomy comes with conditions that do not make it an eternal law. It is only valid for a transitional period ending in 2045. Gas and nuclear will only then be sustainable if new technologies are introduced. As for gas, it will have to be substituted for coal. 

Moreover, the taxonomy is not a mandatory rule. Economic actors have the right to choose the energies in which they will invest with regard to the climate issue. Investors have their own rules for assessing risk and what is, or is not, sustainable. And this is the limit of the intrusion of politics into the functioning of the market.

According to Kevin Book, managing director of ClearView Energy Partners, European natural gas prices have skyrocketed by about 700% since the first of the year. To bring prices back to "fair" levels, many European countries are seeking to establish long-term deals, including LNG shipments from the US, Qatar, and other nations. However, these contracts happen to contradict Europe's goals of curtailing global warming. This did not stop some governments that have espoused very green values from signing 20-year contracts for LNG.

In retrospect, this move could reflect the EU's aspirations to turn to alternatives to Russian gas following the implementation of EU and US sanctions on Russia. The EU is seeking to buy gas on a massive scale from countries other than Russia (including via Russian gas resellers) but the supply remains limited and the gas ships remain insufficient to transport productions to the EU when they are already mobilized on other contracts.

  • Greenwashing
  • European Union

Most Read

A rescued crew member from the ETERNITY C vessel in a video released by the Yemeni Armed Forces on July 28, 2025 (Yemeni Military Media)

Yemen Navy reveals fate of targeted Eternity C ship crew

  • Politics
  • 28 Jul 2025
An Israeli tank explodes following an ambush by al-Qassam Brigades in Gaza, Occupied Palestine, undated (Al-Qassam Military Media)

Al-Qassam strikes Israeli vehicles in Gaza, inflicts casualties

  • Politics
  • 30 Jul 2025
UAE lodges complaint against Israeli ambassador over 'misbehavior'

UAE lodges complaint against Israeli ambassador over 'misbehavior'

  • Politics
  • 1 Aug 2025
An explosion seen during an Iranian missile attack on Tel Aviv, Occupied Palestine, June 13, 2025 (AP)

If Iran is attacked again, geography of response may change: IRGC spox

  • Politics
  • 30 Jul 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
A member of the al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, takes part in a parade as he celebrates a ceasefire agreement between Hamas and the Israeli regime in Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, Sunday, January 19, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Al-Qassam: We’ll allow aid to Israeli captives if Gaza siege ends

Freed Lebanese freedom fighter Georges Abdallah during an interview on Al Mayadeen, which aired on Sunday, August 3, 2025 (Al Mayadeen screengrab)
Politics

Exclusive: Resistance key to building state, Georges Abdallah says

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres gives a statement about the situation in Gaza at UN headquarters, Friday, June 27, 2025 (AP)
Politics

UN warns Gaza faces water crisis, looming famine under Israeli siege

Israeli soldiers drive their armored personnel carrier along the Gaza Strip, in southern occupied Palestine, Wednesday, July 30, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Ex-Israeli general says Gaza starvation campaign isolated 'Israel'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS