The European Commission “was entitled to take the view that nuclear energy generation has near to zero greenhouse gas emissions and that there are currently no technologically and economically feasible low-carbon alternatives at a sufficient scale, such as renewable energy sources, to cover the energy demand in a continuous and reliable manner,” the Luxembourg-based court said in a statement on Wednesday.
The European Union (EU) was entitled to include gas and nuclear energy in its green rulebook allowing the technologies to tap subsidies and cheaper finance, the bloc’s second highest tribunal ruled in a challenge brought by Austria.
Judges at the general court upheld the decision by the EU’s executive arm to declare the two energy sources as clean under the so-called taxonomy if certain conditions are met. It said that they could “contribute substantially” to climate change mitigation and adaptation.
