but in fact, what is the root of the problem?

“You promote gas to save a nuclear company condemned to bankruptcy“, launched the European deputy Yannick Jadot. “I consider that defending this taxonomy and nuclear power is a coherent choice with the fight against global warming and climate change.“, estimated Emmanuel Macron.

Just before the end of 2021, the European Commission proposed to include nuclear and gas in its “green taxonomy”, which can be defined by its classification of sustainable energies. And if energy sectors obtain a green label, it is easier for them to obtain subsidies and financing. A measure that does not please environmentalists, in particular Yannick Jadot who considers nuclear power to be dangerous and who opposes gas because it is a fossil fuel, and therefore polluting.

The French president, on the other hand, is a great promoter of nuclear power. He also announced in November 2021 the construction of new EPR reactors in France and one billion euros of investment by 2030 in the development of small modular reactors, says SMR. However, if the reform of the European taxonomy were validated, new nuclear projects with a building permit issued before 2045 would be eligible for investments intended for the energy transition.

To pass this reform, the French State has joined forces with Central European countries such as Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic. For its part, Germany opposes classifying nuclear as a green energy, since the German government intends to close the last nuclear power plants in the country in 2022. But since Germany is betting partly on the gas to make its energy transition, its government seems to accept the compromise of labeling gas and nuclear as sustainable energies.

The text is now in consultation with EU member states until January 21, before returning notably to the European Parliament for consideration.