Energy Transition in Europe | www.energy-cities.eu

EU lawmakers from across the political spectrum are furious about the European Commission’s refusal to adequately consult them on a draft proposal to label gas and nuclear as a "transitional" source of energy, parliamentary sources have told EURACTIV.

The European Commission has offered EU member states a greater role in deciding which technologies can be considered a sustainable investment in Europe after narrowly escaping a humiliating defeat last year over draft labelling rules for gas under its green finance taxonomy.

The European Commission is reconsidering the position of gas in its sustainable finance taxonomy by recognising the fossil fuel’s role in keeping the lights on during peak electricity demand, according to a leaked document seen by EURACTIV.

The European Commission was forced to delay publication of detailed implementing rules on the EU’s sustainable finance taxonomy because of the sheer number of comments received and a threat of blockage from eastern and southern EU member states, EURACTIV can reveal.

The European Commission on Friday (20 November) launched "the world’s first ever ‘green-list’" of sustainable economic activities for private investors by publishing draft guidelines under the EU's green finance taxonomy.

greenwashing is not a problem for the green transition, it is THE problem. One that calls for appropriate measures.

The European Union plans to label some gas power plants as sustainable investments, after an initial proposal to deny them a green label faced a backlash from a group of 10 EU member states.

The EU’s “sustainable Taxonomy” has been sometimes portrayed as a binary tool defining which economic activities are sustainable and which ones are not. In fact, it can benefit a wide cross-section of Europe’s economy, writes Nathan Fabian.

Nathan Fabian is Chief Responsible Investment Officer at PRI, a United Nations-supported international network of investors promoting sustainable investment. He is also chairperson of the European Commission’s Platform on Sustainable Finance, an EU advisory body.

Meeting the climate target requires rapid realignment and mobilisation of finance at a massive scale. To avoid greenwashing, the EU's sustainable finance taxonomy needs to establish screening criteria, rooted in science and linked to the metrics of climate change, writes Peter Sweatman.

À Bruxelles, le nucléaire n’est pas la seule énergie à concentrer les tensions autour de la taxonomie verte. Le secteur hydroélectrique suit lui aussi de près le règlement européen destiné à encourager l’investissement dans les activités « durables ». Avec l’intention d’être ainsi labellisé.
Comme pour le nucléaire, le sort de l’industrie hydroélectrique intéresse tout particulièrement la France. Avec ses 2 663 barrages hydroélectriques planifiés ou construits, l’Hexagone est le troisième plus gros producteur d’hydroélectricité…