Monthly Highlights from the Russian Arctic, March 2024
In this news digest, we monitor events that impact the environment in the Russian Arctic. Our main focus lies in identifying the factors that contribute to pollution risks and climate change.
News
Publish date: September 9, 2021
News
PRESS RELEASE
10 September 2021, Brussels – A majority in the European Parliament, including the Socialist and Democrats (S&D), look set to vote to lock in upwards of 213 million tonnes of carbon from fossil gas, as part of the revision of the EU’s key energy infrastructure law, the TEN-E Regulation.
On Monday, the lead MEPs from each political group will meet to agree the final deal on the Parliament’s proposals for the TEN-E revision before the vote in the ITRE Committee on 27 September. The latest proposals look set to allow continued funding of all gas projects featured on the EU’s fourth and fifth lists of “projects of common interest” (PCIs). The S&D are failing to challenge the conservative European People’s and European Conservatives and Reformists parties who are supporting this position.
Global Witness analysis has found that the new gas projects on the fifth list alone could emit 213 million tonnes of carbon dioxide each year, the same as Germany’s entire coal fleet in 2018. And nearly half a billion euros has been wasted already by the EU on PCIs that have failed, or are likely to.
Tara Connolly, Senior Gas Campaigner at Global Witness, said:
“We’ve had enough of empty rhetoric from those who say that they believe that climate change has to be addressed as a matter of urgency, but then fail to act when the meaningful measures that can make a difference are negotiated. With the climate crisis wreaking havoc across the world this summer, groups like the Socialists have been quick to call for action yet are now failing to heed their own calls.”
In addition to the ongoing support for fossil gas infrastructure, the Parliament is also planning to support projects that transport hydrogen. Through a process known as blending, the Parliament would allow small volumes of hydrogen to be mixed with large volumes of fossil gas, an immense loophole for gas companies cloaked in the guise of sustainability. At the same time, blending hydrogen and gas would increase consumer prices for today’s users, including those that are not likely to be the hydrogen users of tomorrow.
In its own TEN-E revision proposals the European Commission opted against future support, including funding, for any gas projects, whilst the Energy Council decided to continue support just two projects.
With the climate crisis causing ever-more severe flooding, fires and droughts, and with countries like Greece, Germany and Belgium hit particularly hard this summer, it is clear that fossil fuels have no future in Europe’s energy system.
MEPs should not shy away from their responsibilities to put in place a policy framework that phases out fossil fuels by 2035.
ENDS
For more information please contact:
Paul Hallows, Communications Adviser at Global Witness: phallows@globalwitness.org | +32 484 22 50 43
Tara Connolly, Senior Gas Campaigner at Global Witness: tconnolly@globalwitness.org | +32 477790416
In this news digest, we monitor events that impact the environment in the Russian Arctic. Our main focus lies in identifying the factors that contribute to pollution risks and climate change.
A survey of events in the field of nuclear and radiation safety relating to Russia and Ukraine.
Russian president Vladimir Putin has told the United Nations atomic energy watchdog that Russia plans to restart Ukraine’s embattled Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, currently occupied by Russian troops and technicians, fueling worries about a serious nuclear accident on the front lines of a grinding military conflict.
Wednesday, April 10, 2024 | Brussels, Belgium – Today, the European Parliament approved the newly revised Construction Products regulation (CPR)...