The Green Deal is the solution and not the problem
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Climate protection and independence from Russian energy imports require exactly the same decisions in the medium and long term / short-term compromises in environmental policy are necessary
“The Green Deal is the solution, not the problem. Climate protection and independence from imports of gas, oil and coal from Russia requires the same measures in the medium and long term, which is why we must not question the European Commission's "Fit for 55" package now, but rather strengthen and prioritize different aspects of it. In the short-term it is necessary that also environmental politicians are making compromises so that we become as independent as possible from imports from Russia.” This emphasized the environmental spokesperson of the biggest group in parliament (EPP, Christian-Democrats) regarding the presentation of the package of the European Commission on affordable, save and sustainable energy in the EU.
The Commission has explained how it intends to ensure energy security in Europe in the face of the Russian invasion and the terrible war in Ukraine. The paper states that Russian gas imports currently amount to 155 billion cubic meters.
100 billion of these would be replaced by the "Fit for 55" package. In the short term, elements of the package are to be advanced in order to become independent even more quickly. At the same time, the supply of gas has to be diversified. Biomethane should play a bigger role. Its potential is estimated at 34 billion tons. Simultaneously, the development of hydrogen is to be brought forward. The Commission announces a solar strategy for June this year and wants to simplify the procedures for expanding renewable energy systems in the short term. Heat pumps will play an important role.
Read more: The Green Deal is the solution and not the problem
are paying for the war with our energy bill
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Do EVERYTHING to become more independent from Russia / Compromises on environmental protection necessary in the short term / Keep climate protection targets at all costs, because in the medium and long term climate protection and independence require the same measures / Do not ignore IPCC
"With our energy bill we are financing Putin's war in Ukraine. That is why we must immediately use ALL! alternatives," said the environmental spokesman of the largest group in the European Parliament (EPP, Christian Democrats) Dr Peter Liese on the occasion of the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine. "The world has changed and therefore every policy area must also change. This also applies to environmental policy. At the same time, we must not lose sight of the fact that climate protection requires to a large extent the same measures as the goal of becoming less dependent from Russia. The alarming statements of the IPCC must not be ignored," said Liese.
Liese called for an import ban on coal from Russia in the short term: "Coal is the dirtiest form of energy, and the fact that we are making ourselves dependent on Russia here when there are numerous alternatives, such as South Africa, Australia and Colombia, has been incomprehensible to me for a long time." He referred to calculations according to which the European Union imports energy, i.e. oil, gas and coal, worth 67 billion US dollars annually from Russia. Russia's military budget, on the other hand, is "only" 61 billion US dollars. "Every effort is justified to reduce this high sum and this is where we have to make compromises in the short term, even as environmental politicians. The rejection of fracking must be put to the test, as must the phase-out of nuclear energy in Germany, whereby it must be carefully examined whether the continued operation of the power plants is practically necessary at all. In parts of the European Union, of course, there is still a dependence on Russia, e.g. through spare parts for older Russian-designed power plants."
Renewable energies are energies of peace, freedom and democracy
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EU must increase target for energy efficiency / Money for energy imports to a blocked special account
“Renewable energies are energies of peace, freedom and democracy. We see that very clearly in the current crisis surrounding the terrible war that Putin's army is waging in Ukraine. The European Union imports gas, coal and oil worth 99 billion euros every year.[1] That is almost double the Russian military budget. Consequently, we are financing the war with our money for energy and should therefore not be afraid of blocking Russian supplies of oil, gas and coal, but should be proactive in this regard. The least that must happen is that we send the money for these deliveries to a blocked special account and only release them when the war is over. If in doubt, we have to stop the exports. I find it unbearable that Gazprom Bank is exempt from sanctions against Russian banks. We need to become more independent as soon as possible. This requires short-term compromises, e.g. more use of coal from inside the European Union or countries like South Africa. In the medium and long term, the expansion of renewable energies and more energy efficiency is the only right solution”, emphasized the environmental spokesperson of the EPP group in the European Parliament, Peter Liese.
He emphatically welcomed the proposal by his EPP group colleague Markus Pieper to increase the renewable energy target for the EU from 40 to 45 percent and called for a comparable step in the area of energy efficiency. The ENVI Committee of the European Parliament is discussing its opinion on energy efficiency this Thursday.
Novavax can help to convince vaccine hesitators and can make a big contribution to vaccination programs in low- and middle- income countries
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European authorisation System has proven helpful for the new company / first doses are leaving the distribution centre in the Netherlands in these minutes
“The new vaccine of Novavax can help to convince people that have not been ready to get vaccinated so far because it is based on a more traditional procedure and helps to speed up the vaccination campaign in low- and middle- income countries.” This concluded the health spokesperson of the biggest group in the European Parliament (EPP Christian Democrats), Peter Liese after a videoconference with the company.
Novavax announced the start of shipments of its vaccine that has already been approved in Europe at the end of last year. “I strongly defend the European authorisation system and all vaccines that get conditional marketing authorisation are safe. The benefits by far outweigh the risks. However, some people have unfortunately not yet been vaccinated because they do not trust the m-RNA and/or the vector technology. They now have an alternative with the protein-based vaccine of Novavax. On top of that, Novavax has much less demanding criteria for storage and the cold chain. That is why it is a good alternative for low- and middle-income countries”, announced Liese.