TWO EU COMMITTEES have objected to a contentious proposal to label gas and nuclear power as sustainable energy sources, casting further doubt over whether it will be adopted.

Irish MEPs were divided on the proposal, which relates to a list that classifies economic activities as environmentally sustainable called the taxonomy.

Nuclear power and natural gas could be considered green energy sources for investors in the taxonomy if a European Commission proposal is approved.

The proposal, led by Commissioner Mairéad McGuiness, has been criticised by several anti-nuclear countries and by climate activists who argue that the move would be an act of ‘greenwashing’, though proponents argue that gas and nuclear should be used in the shift away from fuels like coal and oil.

Ahead of a vote among all MEPs in the European Parliament next month, the EU’s environment and economic committees held a joint meeting today on the proposal.

The committees passed an objection to the proposal with 76 in favour, 62 against, and four abstentions.

Green MEP Grace O’Sullivan, who voted for the objection along with Independent Mick Wallace and Sinn Féin’s Chris MacManus, said the proposal would divert funding away from ‘truly green’ investments such as renewable energy projects.

“If we are serious about climate action then we must ensure the integrity of the European Green Deal against attempts to greenwash. This means rejecting the attempt to label gas and nuclear investments as green,” O’Sullivan said.

She said she was disappointed that some other Irish MEPs who had a vote on the committees, including Fine Gael’s Frances Fitzgerald and Fianna Fáil’s Billy Kelleher, voted in favour of including gas and nuclear in the taxonomy.

Kelleher said the result was “incredibly disappointing and short sighted”.

“The inclusion of nuclear and gas is a no-brainer in my opinion. While its inclusion or non-inclusion does not stop countries investing in these types of facilities, it does make it less attractive for investors.”

He said not classifying nuclear power as sustainable would reduce opportunities for research into making it safer and that gas “will be an essential component of how eastern European countries move away from coal and oil to renewables”. 

The resolution that the MEPs adopted outlines that they consider the Commission’s proposal to not respect the EU’s criteria for environmentally sustainable economic activities.

It also requests that any new or amended pieces of relevant legislation go through a public consultation and impact assessments.

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The taxonomy does not require investors to invest solely in specific economic activities, but provides a framework with details that are meant to guide how to make sustainable investment choices.

In January, The Journal asked Irish MEPs their position on the plan. Several left-wing MEPs said they would oppose the plan if it comes to a vote, Fianna Fáil’s Kelleher confirmed he intended to support it, and others said they needed more time to scrutinise it before making a decision.

The European Parliament’s 705 MEPs will be asked to vote on the proposal at a session in Strasbourg next month.

Irish MEP Ciarán Cuffe said in a statement that “today’s news is good for climate, but it is not yet clear whether the full parliament will endorse today’s Committee vote next month”.

“I am calling on Irish MEPs to reject the taxonomy proposal next month and ensure that action to tackle the climate crisis continues.”