There has been a proposal to extend the taxonomy decree, which would have deemed some sectors of nuclear and crude-oil energy sources unsustainable. With the rejection of the proposal by the European Parliament, both remain considered safe, clean, and sustainable.
The Taxonomy Decree
The European Committee’s proposal details that nuclear and gas-based energy plays a large part in the green shift and could play a role in limiting the climate crisis. For this reason, these energy sources have been classified as sustainable from an environmental standpoint. The modification that has been rejected would have prevented this from happening. During the vote, 328 representatives of the European Parliament voted yes, 278 voted no and 33 abstained. Unless the Parliament of the Union or the government of one of the countries raise objections, the taxonomy decree will come inro effect as of 2023.
The Hungarian Opinion
‘We have kept energy supplies safe and affordable, while protecting the utility costs reduction programme’
EU-Representatives of Fidesz-KDNP wrote in a statement that they consider the development a success. ‘We have kept energy supplies safe and affordable, while protecting the utility costs reduction programme,’ they stated. They also emphasised that to keep utility costs low in the country, and for Hungary to become carbon neutral, nuclear and gas-based energy are both needed. Otherwise, the cost of energy will skyrocket. Fidesz MEP Edina Tóth also remarked that the European and Hungarian leftists had done everything in their power in the last weeks to prevent these energy sources from being accepted as green and sustainable.
The Importance of These Energy Sources
At the start of the week, former president of Hungary János Áder invited an expert on nuclear energy to his podcast. In the episode they thoroughly analysed the way Hungary can cut down on gas consumption in these trying times. Even though Hungary has a large reserve of gas, with the supply from Russia being uncertain, the country might face an energy crisis in the future, but the expansion of Paks power plant could prevent this from happenning, the host and his guest agreed.
The expert, Zsolt Hárfás explained that in his opinion, nuclear energy is one of the safest and most environmentally-friendly sources that a country can utilize. The taxonomy decree has now reinforced that view, and allows Hungary to pave the way toward sustainable and cheap energy in the future.
The fact that the European Parliament vetoed the proposal means that low utility prices in Hungary remain protected. With nuclear and crude-oil energy both being deemed sustainable and green, their costs will be significantly lower. Not only the purchase of enery, but its production will also be cheaper, as lower taxes will be imposed on them.
