Eurosolar Lëtzebuerg asbl, a Luxembourg non-profit organisation which advocates the use of renewable energies, has voiced its opposition to the recent decision of the European Parliament to approve the inclusion of gas and nuclear energy in the European Union (EU) taxonomy for sustainable activities.
For more than 20 years, Eurosolar Lëtzebuerg asbl has been defending the energy transition and renewable energies, i.e. the replacement of polluting and climate-damaging energies by photovoltaic, wind and biomass.
In a statement released recenly, the non-profit made its opinion clear that gas and nuclear energy have no place in any renewable energy taxonomy.
Whilst it recognised that the demand for electricity will rise due to the increasing electrification of mobility and heat pumps, as well changes in industrial production, Eurosolar Lëtzebuerg stressed the need to put an end to "greenwashing". The statement read: "Green financial products must be reliably green. This is why the Taxonomy Act, a classification system, aims to determine which economic activities are climate and environmental friendly". The non-profit also recognised that nuclear and / or gas-fired power stations may be here to stay for a while longer, as evidenced by the recent European Parliament vote, but argued that "that's no reason to stick a green label on them".
Eurosolar Lëtzebuerg recalled that: "Even if it meets the most modern standards, a nuclear power plant produces electricity for three generations and subsequent costs for 3,000 generations due to nuclear power plant ruins and nuclear waste". It also pointed out the "known difficulties" in maintaining the normal operation and maintenance of nuclear reactors.
Returning to the EU taxonomy, Eurosolar Lëtzebuerg said that it hoped that "no one will be fooled by this window dressing" and expressed its support for the legal action planned by the Luxembourg government, together with those of other EU member states such as Austria, over this decision.
