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business Monday 28 March 2022

War shakes Europe path to energy independence, climate goals

(AP) — Before Russia’s war
in Ukraine, Europe’s most
pressing energy policy goal
was reducing carbon emis-
sions that cause climate
change.
Now, officials are fixated
on rapidly reducing the
continent’s reliance on
Russian oil and natural gas
— and that means friction
between security and cli-
mate goals, at least in the
short term.
To wean itself from Russian
energy supplies as quick-
ly as possible, Europe will
need to burn more coal
and build more pipelines
and terminals to import fos-
sil fuels from elsewhere.
This dramatic shift comes
amid soaring fuel costs for
motorists, homeowners and
businesses, and as political
leaders reassess the geo-
political risks from being so
energy-dependent on Rus-
sia.
In 2021, the European Union
imported roughly 40% of its The EU has pledged to re- rity commissioner Václav propel conservation.
gas and 25% of its oil from duce carbon dioxide emis- Bartuška, told the news site In Britain, which is no longer The International Energy
Russia — an economic re- sions by 55% compared Seznam Zprávy. “Until that part of the EU, Prime Min- Agency recently released
lationship that officials had with 1990 levels by 2030, time, even the greenest ister Boris Johnson says it’s a 10-point plan for Europe
thought would prevent and to get to net zero emis- government will not phase “time to take back control to reduce its dependence
hostilities, but is instead fi- sions by 2050. Analysts and out coal.” of our energy supplies.” on Russian gas by a third
nancing them. officials say those goals, en- One of Europe’s top priori- Britain will phase out the within a year. Simply lower-
While some are calling for shrined in EU climate legis- ties is to buy more liquefied small amount of oil it im- ing building thermostats by
an immediate boycott of lation, can still be met. natural gas that can come ports from Russia this year. an average of one degree
all Russian oil and gas, the The rapid pursuit of energy by ship. On Friday, Ameri- More significantly, Johnson Celsius during the home-
EU plans to reduce Russian independence from Russia can and European officials has signaled plans to ap- heating season would save
gas imports by two-thirds will likely require “a slight announced a plan under prove new oil and gas ex- 10 billion cubic meters
by the end of this year, and increase” in carbon emis- which the U.S. and other ploration in the North Sea, of natural gas a year, or
to eliminate them altogeth- sions, said George Zach- nations will increase lique- to the dismay of environ- roughly 6% of what Europe
er before 2030. mann, an energy expert fied gas exports to Europe mentalists, who say that is imports from Russia.
This “will not be easy,” said at the Bruegel think tank in this year, though U.S. of- incompatible with Britain’s At the German rooftop so-
Paolo Gentiloni, the EU’s Brussels. ficials were unable to say climate targets. lar panel company Zolar,
top economic official. But “in the long term, the exactly which countries will Some within the governing chief executive Alex Melzer
But, he added, “it can be effect will be that we will provide the extra energy Conservative Party and the said there has been a surge
done.” see more investment in re- this year. wider political right want of inquiries from potential
In the near-term, end- newables and energy ef- Germany, which lacks im- the British government to customers since the war
ing energy ties with Russia ficiency in Europe,” Zach- port terminals to turn LNG retreat on its commitment began.
puts the focus on securing mann said. back into gas when it to reach net zero by 2050, “With the Ukraine crisis,
alternative sources of fos- Plans that wouldn’t have comes off the ship, is push- a pledge made less than we’ve really seen that peo-
sil fuels. But longer term, been contemplated just a ing ahead with two multi- six months ago at a global ple are wondering whether
the geopolitical and price few months ago are now billion-euro projects on its climate summit in Glasgow, Germany is going to stop
pressures stoked by Russia’s being actively discussed, North Sea coast. Scotland. Conservative buying oil and gas from
war in Ukraine may actually such as running coal plants The war also has revived Party co-chairman Oliver Russia and what’s going
accelerate Europe’s transi- in Germany beyond 2030, Spain’s interest in extend- Dowden said last week to happen to our electric-
tion away from oil, gas and which had previously been ing a gas pipeline across that “British people want ity and energy system,” he
coal. seen as an end date. the Pyrenees to France. to see a bit of conservative told The Associated Press.
Experts say the war has Germany’s vice chancellor The 450 million-euro ($500 pragmatism, not net zero Melzer said customers are
served as a reminder that and energy minister, Robert million) project had been dogma.” less interested in saving
renewable energy isn’t just Habeck, said there should abandoned in 2019 after Yet the shock waves from the planet than in saving
good for the climate, but be “no taboos.” France showed little inter- the war cut both ways. money, despite the upfront
also for national security. The Czech government has est and a European fea- Sharply higher gas and investment of 20,000 euros
That could help speed up made the same calcula- sibility study deemed it electricity prices, and the ($22,000). But it amounts to
the development of wind tion about extending the unprofitable and unneces- desire to be less depen- the same thing: a reduc-
and solar power, as well as life of coal power plants. sary. If built, it would allow dent on Russia, are increas- tion in fossil fuel use and
provide a boost to conser- “We will need it until we gas imported in Spain and ing pressure to expand the thereby emissions.
vation and energy-efficien- find alternative sourc- Portugal as LNG to reach development of home- “Goal achieved, super,”
cy initiatives. es,” Czech energy secu- other parts of Europe. grown renewables and to he said.q