The governments of the EU member states had the opportunity until yesterday evening to comment on the statement of the Platform on Sustainable Finance on the Taxonomy Delegated Act of the EU Commission. Hereby the Commission proposes to classify nuclear power and natural gas as sustainable. On this occasion, the German government once again emphasized that both nuclear power and the longer-term use of natural gas are not sustainable regarding the taxonomy criteria.
Federal Minister for the Environment and Consumer Protection Steffi Lemke comments the statement of the Platform on Sustainable Finance as follows:
"As the European Commission’s main advisory body on the taxonomy, the Platform on Sustainable Finance’s categorical rejection of the current Commission proposal is a wake-up call. It requires us to examine the question once again, with in-depth discussions on whether nuclear power and natural gas can be considered sustainable. Ultimately, this issue will determine the success or failure of the taxonomy, and consequently of the Green Deal. There is a lot at stake. The opinion of the Platform on Sustainable Finance confirms my own position: It would be a major error to include nuclear power and natural gas in the taxonomy. Classifying nuclear power as a sustainable form of energy and including it in the taxonomy would be a greenwash. This would cause irreparable damage to the perception of the taxonomy as a trustworthy, sound assessment standard for sustainable economic activities which can serve as a global model. Given the overwhelming importance of these issues, we now need public consultation and a proper legislative procedure. Only this will sufficiently ensure the involvement of the public, member states and the European Parliament."