Nuclear energy must be included in the European taxonomic framework by the end of this year, according to a joint piece published in various European media yesterday by energy and economy ministers from 10 EU member states. Nuclear energy is “an economical, dependable, and independent energy supply,” according to the ministers. The nations have been dubbed a “Nuclear Alliance” by the Czech Ministry of Energy.
“Our economy’s decarbonisation necessitates immediate and profound changes in our [energy] production and consumption patterns to make them less CO2 emitting,” wrote 15 ministers from Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia in an article submitted to the UN. “This entails huge electrification of our consumption and the development of low-carbon sectors like hydrogen, which, in turn, necessitates the production of additional power.”
They stated, “Nuclear energy must be part of the answer.” “While renewables are important in the energy transition, we also need additional carbon-free energy sources to satisfy our demands regularly and adequately.” Nuclear power is necessary. It currently generates over half of Europe’s carbon-free power.”
The article went on to say, “Nuclear energy is both safe and inventive.” “The European nuclear sector has shown its dependability and safety for more than 60 years.” With 126 reactors in 14 European nations, it is one of the most tightly regulated industries in the world. The industry’s capacity to ensure the highest safety standards in the world is due to regular interactions across authorities. This is especially true when it comes to trash treatment.
“With its distinctive disruptive technology, the European nuclear sector is a world leader.” Its growth has the potential to create over one million high-skilled employment across Europe. We will soon be able to build new, modern reactors, such as compact modular reactors, if member state collaboration improves.”
While EU member states are free to pick their own energy mix, the ministers stressed that “our rights in this field must be respected, and all low-CO2 energy generation methods must be fairly assessed.”
“It is hence vitally necessary that nuclear energy be included in the Framework of the European Taxonomy by the end of this year,” the paper said. All of the scientific assessments of nuclear energy’s environmental impact commissioned by the European Commission come to the same conclusion: “There is no scientific evidence that nuclear energy contributes more to global warming than other energy sources included in the taxonomy.”
The Czech Ministry of Energy dubbed the nations a “Nuclear Alliance,” claiming that it and France were the ones who came up with the idea. Minister of Trade and Industry Karel Havlek remarked, “The collaboration is founded on an exceptional opportunity.” “From January, France will hold the presidency of the EU Council.”
Nuclear power is “our strongest weapon” in the battle against climate change, they claimed. “It is a clean, safe, independent, and cost-effective energy source.” It gives us Europeans the opportunity to continue to build a high-value-added sector, generate thousands of skilled jobs, enhance our environmental goals, and maintain Europe’s strategic and energy independence. Let us not squander such an important chance.”
The European Commission published its Action Plan on Financing Sustainable Growth in March 2018 and two months later enacted a package of actions. In July 2018, the Commission established a Technical Experts Group (TEG) on Sustainable Finance to help it in creating a single categorization system for sustainable economic activity. In June of last year, the TEG released its Taxonomy Technical Report. Nuclear power was left off the list of economically viable options. The European Council, on the other hand, agreed in September 2020 to keep its technology-neutral policy for funding sustainable growth and the transition to a low-carbon, resource-efficient economy.
The European Union decided on an uniform categorization system on December 16 of last year in order to promote private investment in sustainable growth and contribute to a climate-neutral economy.
Seven EU presidents wrote to the European Commission in March about the role of nuclear power in EU climate and energy policy. “We demand that the European Commission guarantee that the EU’s energy and climate policy accommodates all pathways to climate neutrality in accordance with the concept of technological neutrality,” the letter stated.
The European Commission stated the following month that nuclear energy will be included in a supplementary Delegated Act of the EU Taxonomy Regulation, which would also cover natural gas.