By Chloe Kowalyk
This afternoon, the GEU Environmental Council (ENVI) met to discuss matters relating to energy and energy solutions to help lessen the effects of climate change. Following the COP-26 conference in Glasgow, Scotland, it was widely recognized that changes in policy to help prevent further effects, and reduce the current effects of climate change is extremely important. In fact, 2020 was the second warmest year on record, indicating a significant rise in temperatures.
For ENVI, finding solutions to reduce carbon emissions to a net of zero by 2050 is a major goal. ENVI had considered nuclear energy as an emissions-free way to produce energy. The council discussed creating a MEU committee that will, according to the ENVI agenda, “[further] research on safety measures regarding nuclear energy production in participating MEU member states.”
This committee would be responsible for outlining crucial health and safety standards, with the exception of states who will create their own nuclear energy programs operating within these protocols determined by the committee. Each of the MEU member countries would be permitted to send one representative to be a part of the committee, and that one member would count as one vote.
ENVI also discussed that the GMEU would form a committee to help investigate ways to transition to renewable energy sources, such as wind, solar and hydroelectric energy, which would work similarly to the previous committee, with each country that is a member of the GMEU having one representative and thus one vote.
Recognizing the increasingly negative effects fossil fuels have on the environment, ENVI decided that a committee must be formed to investigate ways to move away from using fossil fuel based energy. Fossil fuels lead to an increase in carbon dioxide and other harmful gas emissions. France’s environmental minister Johannes Lerch proposed using hydrogen as a fuel for energy security in replacement of harmful fossil fuels.
With other countries agreeing, it was decided that a similar replacement for natural gas should be sought out. However, giving up fossil fuels is more difficult for some countries than others. Poland, for instance, relies on coal mining for their economy, and coal itself is a tradition of the country. However, the countries agreed that both nuclear and renewable energy are important in achieving their goal of zero net emissions by 2050.
ENVI were in agreement that all counties need to increase their efforts to decarbonize their energy use and production with the assistance of the EU. Countries are encouraged to diminish their use of oil and coal powered plants and to use hydrogen rather than methane to reduce carbon emissions. Instead, ENVI believes that countries should consider transitioning to renewable energy sources such as wind, solar and hydroelectric power.
ENVI then discussed opening pathways for private investors to invest into nuclear energy as green energy. However, it is important to remember that not all countries are adopting nuclear energy, such as Denmark and Ireland. In response, the council decided that those member countries not developing a nuclear energy plan may continue to use private investment in renewable energy.
Verena Patzelt, Poland’s environmental minister, believes that opening pathways for private investors is a great idea. The sooner money comes in, the sooner the MEU can begin reducing carbon emissions: the primary goal of ENVI. However, the council agreed that private investors must meet a minimum set of qualifications in order to be eligible to invest in nuclear power. Although these qualifications will be adapted to meet the needs of each specific GMEU member country, they must be met in order to invest. These guidelines will be created by the previously mentioned committee made up of one representative from each GMEU member country.
Lastly, ENVI sought out a solution for nuclear waste disposal. In discussion, it was brought up that each country may see different impacts of nuclear waste, and some may not have any at all if they are not utilizing nuclear energy. Because of this, there were some differing opinions on how to approach the matter. Some countries felt that each individual country creating nuclear waste should be responsible for disposing of their own waste, while others felt that all countries should work together to research effective means of nuclear waste disposal.
The council agreed that, according to their agenda, “research on and decisions regarding nuclear waste disposal shall be dealt with by member states using nuclear energy as opposed to a broad, [GM]EU determined policy.” All nuclear energy-producing GMEU members are encouraged to work together to develop plans to dispose of their nuclear waste. Countries not developing nuclear energy programs are allowed to assist nuclear energy users, but are not obligated to contribute to research on nuclear waste disposal.
However, after the meeting came to a close, the Irish government proposed a major and controversial change to the agenda, which won’t be changed easily. According to Lerch, this new change “has potential to increase the speed of changing the energy mix of Europe,” which will ultimately reduce carbon emissions.