Climate advocates are warning against a European proposal to subsidize the fossil fuel. Should gas be called “green?” That’s exactly what the European Union’s executive branch has proposed. The European Commission, the executive branch of the European Union, says that gas is a low-carbon fuel, which is correct when compared with coal. The commission says it would closely monitor gas projects and allow banks and governments to offer them cheaper loans. A broad coalition of European lawmakers says the move is counterproductive and goes against the substance of Europe’s commitments to carbon neutrality. There’s wide opposition to the proposal to classify gas, as well as nuclear power, as green energy. In fact, the Commission’s ability to get the blessing of Parliament on Wednesday is hanging in the balance. The debate over gas is not just about whether there’s room for gas in a net-zero future. It’s about who gets to produce those emissions. So part of the global argument over gas is who should get to expand fossil fuel production, and for what purpose.
By Somini Sengupta. New York Times/Patabook News. Published July 5, 2022. Updated July 6, 2022.
