By Chloe Kowalyk
This weekend, the environmental council of the GMEU (ENVI) met to discuss potential plans for reducing Europe’s strong dependence on energy from Russia. Currently, the Russian Federation supplies large amounts of fossil fuels, oil, natural gas and coal to the EU.
Percentage of Gas Supplied by Russia, via CNN
Russian gas is typically cheap and readily available, making it a popular choice for European countries. According to the EU, an overwhelming majority of crude oil, natural gas and fossil fuel supplies come from Russia. However, the GMEU seeks to reduce their dependence on Russia for their energy needs.
Yesterday afternoon, ENVI proposed that all member states of the GMEU must reduce their energy dependence on Russia by 40% by 2026. ENVI also stated that each of the member countries must show their commitment through plans of how to reduce Russian energy imports and how they will begin getting energy from other means. ENVI also proposed forming a committee to be funded by the GMEU to oversee each of the countries’ progress. The member countries will be funded based on their financial and energy needs, based on their dependence on Russia for energy.
ENVI has suggested that, according to their agenda, if any member country does not meet their goal by 2026, “the committee will ask the GMEU commission to start a treaty infringement procedure with the ECJ.” However, as stated above, some GMEU member countries such as Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Bulgaria are more reliant on Russian energy than others.
Because of this, these countries will likely have a much more difficult time reaching their 40% goal of reducing reliance on Russian energy imports in just four years than other countries who are less reliant. On top of this issue, it is important to remember that Europe is in an energy crisis.
In order to become self-reliant, GMEU member countries must adopt policies to supply their own energy without using imports from Russia. But, in accordance with the COP-26 conference and Europe’s policies to reduce carbon emissions, these new energy sources must be green.
Solar panels and wind turbines serve as renewable energy, via Forbes
The major issue with the GMEU’s separation from Russian energy is that Europe must have a rapid recovery for energy sources that are clean, yet self-created. Decarbonization policies must be quick, or Europe will face sharp increases in gas prices. Within the four year span proposed by ENVI to reduce dependence on Europe by 40%, member countries will, at the same time, need to adopt policies to enact renewable, nuclear or other sources of green energy to keep carbon emissions at a minimum.
Within the past two days, ENVI had discussed using nuclear energy as an emissions-free way to produce energy. However, not all countries will adopt nuclear energy, such as Ireland, who is against having nuclear waste in their soil. Germany also prefers renewable energy, such as solar, wind and hydroelectric over nuclear energy.
The main concern now is if this adoption of nuclear energy in some GMEU member countries will be enough to stabilize Europe’s energy crisis. In addition, GMEU member countries not adopting nuclear energy will have to find effective means of utilizing other sources of nonrenewable energy, including solar, wind and hydroelectric quickly.
However, today, ENVI proposed using LNG, or liquefied natural gas, as another source of green energy. LNG is the cleanest burning fossil fuel, and can be used for cooking, heating homes and even powering commercial vehicles.
Receiving LNG is also a means of diversifying the gas supply of Europe, as to avoid an energy crisis. ENVI has proposed to increase shipments of LNG by at least 40% by 2026 to make up for a lack of dependence on the Russian Federation for energy. GMEU plans to receive their LNG from countries other than Russia such as the United States.
ENVI was also careful in their wording to note that LNG facilities must be able to process hydrogen, as to not “impede the efforts to decarbonize the energy sector of the EU.” These LNG ports are not to increase any member countries’ use of fossil fuels.
LNG Shipment, via Reuters
So, the GMEU faces a three-pronged challenge. On one hand, they need to come up with a means of supporting their energy supply without depending on Russia, on the other, coming up with stable policies of green energy to stabilize energy supply in Europe, all while keeping these energy supplies clean in accordance with the COP-26 agreements and goals to decarbonize and reduce emissions.
When asked if the four year deadline proposed would be enough time to accomplish all of these tasks, ENVI responded “in short, yes.”
Across the simulation, all three of ENVI’s agendas have passed.