energy
Roth: “Green label” for nuclear and gas cannot be averted
Michael Roth (SPD), chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, does not expect that a “green label” for nuclear and gas-fired power plants will still be averted. Photo: Christophe Gateau / dpa
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The EU Commission wants to temporarily classify investments in nuclear and gas power plants as climate-friendly. There is criticism from Berlin. But the SPD politician Michael Roth does not expect to turn away.
From the point of view of the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Bundestag, Michael Roth, a “green label” for nuclear and gas-fired power plants can no longer be averted.
With a view to a proposal by the EU Commission, according to which investments in nuclear and gas power plants can temporarily be classified as climate-friendly, the SPD politician told “Bild am Sonntag”: “Germany is committed to more majority decisions in the EU. But that also means that if the worst comes to the worst, we have to recognize that we do not have a majority for our position on some decisions. ” Roth added: “That’s just how democracy is!” In the taxonomy debate, he does not see “how that can still be fended off”. The classification, which has been hotly debated in recent weeks, is also known as “taxonomy”.
Criticism from the SPD, Greens and FDP
There had been clear criticism of the planned classification of nuclear energy as a sustainable energy source from all three governing parties, the SPD, the Greens and the FDP. With regard to gas-fired power plants, however, there were different reactions. While government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit said at the beginning of the week that the criteria for classifying gas-fired power plants were “in line with the position of the federal government,” the Greens sometimes had concerns about the gas plans.
The President of the Federal Office for the Safety of Nuclear Waste Management, Wolfram König, made it clear that continued operation of nuclear power could not be sustainable. “The consequences will keep us busy for decades,” said König of “Bild am Sonntag”. Even after decades of use, Germany is still at the beginning of the safe disposal of waste. To date, no other country has been able to set up a safe repository for the highly radioactive waste.
Germany will phase out nuclear energy by the end of the year. On New Year’s Eve, three of the six remaining nuclear power plants in Germany were shut down.