Nuclear, Gas Taxonomy Change Brings Member State Criticism

The announcement by the European Commission that nuclear and gas-fired power will be considered 'sustainable' energy supplies according the the Commission's 'taxonomy' ( "a classification system, establishing a list of environmentally sustainable economic activities") has resulted in a backlash from environmentalist groups, green parties, and some member state gov'ts.

• Following the announcement, Luxembourg's Energy Minister Claude Turmes tweeted "Luxembourg strongly reaffirms its opposition to the inclusion of nuclear & fossil gas in the decision on EU Taxonomy for "sustainable" finance of the EU Commission. We will consider further legal steps together with Austria."
• The European Commissioners from Austria, Spain, and Portugal voted against the taxonomy change.
• The issue of environmental sustainability is crashing into a wall of fear and hesitancy among some sections of the EU, concerned about major spikes in energy prices and the risk posed to continued energy supplies in the event of an escalation in conflict with Russia. In the short-term at least, the realpolitik issue of keeping the lights on may take over in policy makers' minds rather than aims to protect the environment.