Several European countries have plans to exchange polluting coal-fired power stations for cleaner gas-fired power stations. Brussels is also encouraging investors to use natural gas as a ‘transition fuel’. Temporarily, because ultimately the EU wants a fully climate-neutral energy mix.
Because of Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine, Timmermans indicates that taboos are disappearing. He gives Germany as an example: our eastern neighbors are reconsidering the accelerated closure of coal-fired power stations and the nuclear phase-out. In this way, Berlin wants to prevent it from needing even more natural gas from Russia.
Goals
“If countries stick to coal, but immediately switch to renewable energy sources, it can still be within the targets we have set for our climate policy,” said European Commissioner Timmermans.
At the same time, the PvdA prominent says that the climate approach must now accelerate, precisely in order to become less dependent on fossil fuels. Next week the European Commission will come up with a plan to ensure that we do not have to rely as much on Moscow for our energy needs.