The European Parliament has rejected a motion to oppose the inclusion of nuclear and gas as environmentally sustainable economic activities, approving the European Commission's Taxonomy Delegated Act to include those activities, under certain conditions, in the EU Taxonomy.
Some gas and nuclear activities are added as transitional activities to those already covered by the taxonomy, provided they contribute to the transition to climate neutrality. Specifically, gas should meet GHG emission thresholds and contribute to the transition from coal to renewables. Nuclear activities are required to fulfill nuclear and environmental safety requirements (if they use the best-available existing technologies such as Generation III+ or advanced technologies with closed fuel cycle such as Generation IV).
The European Council have until 11 July 2022 to decide whether to veto the Commission’s proposal. The vote paves the way for the proposal to pass into law, unless 20 of the 27 member states decide to oppose it.