EU: War in Ukraine will not derail Union’s path to climate neutrality

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Environment ministers of the 27 met to decide on a single EU mission for COP27, at a time when a sharp drop in Russian natural gas deliveries led the old continent to increase its imports of liquefied natural gas

Several European officials stated today, Monday that Mr war in Ukrainewhich led to an increased shift to coal and liquefied natural gas, will not derail the EU’s course for climate neutrality, amid negotiations on the matter ahead of the UN Climate Conference (COP27).

The 27 environment ministers met today to decide for a single EU mission to COP27at the time when the drastic reduction of Russian natural gas deliveries led the old continent to increase its imports of liquefied natural gas, to decide on new natural gas infrastructure projects (terminals …) while resorting to coal.

“Some flexibility is needed in the short term: some countries are increasing their coal and natural gas consumption again, this is absolutely temporary and for energy security reasons,” he argued the Spanish Minister of the Environment, Teresa Ribera upon her arrival in Luxembourg.

At the same time, “we are accelerating our transformation to a carbon-free Europe, precisely to gain in security and stability,” while reducing the EU’s dependence on imported hydrocarbons, he stressed.

“The obligation of a certain number of countries to temporarily resort to coal means that they are on a bad annual course” for EU emissions, admitted France’s Minister for Ecological Transition, Christophe Besy.

However, the decisions already adopted by the Europeans (planned exit from carbon, end to the sale of thermal cars from 2035…) “are signs that allow us not to deviate from the course” foreseen for 2030 and 2050, he stated.

“There’s a big misconception: even if we’re consuming more coal today, the takeaway from the war is that we have to accelerate our energy path,” he said. the vice-president of the European Commission, Frans Timmermansresponsible for the European Green Deal.

“In the end, we will reduce our emissions (of greenhouse gases) even faster. For geostrategic reasons, this transition must be accelerated to ensure our energy sovereignty, and this will only happen with the strengthening of renewable energy sources”, he estimated. Paris, for its part, also supports the development of nuclear energy.

Faced with a reduction in Russian natural gas deliveries and the risk of a shortage in Europe, several countries announced in the spring temporary measures in favor of the use of coal, in Germany, Austria, Italy, the Netherlands.

RES-EMP

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