Europe is experiencing a serious energy crisis, especially after the Russia-Ukraine War. The crisis has caused high inflation in many European Union (EU) countries, increasing the cost of living. Besides, the energy crisis has caused the postponement of the decisions taken for the implementation of the EU’s energy and climate policies. The EU has questioned its policies regarding climate change due to the energy crisis, which it is intensively fighting. The bloc was planning to accelerate the transition to sustainable/renewable energy sources such as solar and wind instead of the fossil fuel-based energy system in the fight against climate change. In recent years, work on this issue has also been accelerated. In this context, it was aimed to implement practices aimed at preventing emission increases within the scope of the implementation of the Paris Climate Agreement.
As it will be remembered, the EU Commission, on the occasion of the European Green Deal adopted on December 11, 2019, committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, especially CO2, by 55% by 2030 and to create a “carbon neutral”, that is, zero-emission Europe for 2050.[1]
In this context, the EU planned to increase the use of renewable energy sources and carry out reforms in different areas aimed at reviewing climate and energy policies to achieve the target of reducing emissions by 55% in 2030 with the “Fit-for-55” package announced in September 2020.[2] However, the deepening energy crisis due to the war in Ukraine has negatively affected the EU’s fight against climate change and has revealed the need for states to use non-renewable energy sources such as fossil fuels and nuclear energy at least for a while longer. Therefore, the EU has had to fight the energy crisis on the one hand and climate change on the other at the same time. This situation seems to have squeezed the EU into a narrow space on energy and climate change.
Is the “Green Transformation” the Solution to the Energy Crisis?
Western countries seeking solutions to the energy crisis have begun to take various measures. In this context, governments that call on citizens to save energy have also considered renewable energy sources as an alternative to reduce energy costs. The President of the EU Commission Ursula von der Leyen continues to emphasize the need to invest in renewable energy infrastructure in the negotiations on the measures to be taken within the scope of emergency measures for the energy crisis.[3] Therefore, it is observed that the EU has taken various initiatives to accelerate investments in renewable energy infrastructure in response to the energy crisis.
On the other hand, in the Inflation Reduction Act signed by the President of the United States (US) Joe Biden on August 17, 2022, it is seen that the importance of renewable energy in reducing energy prices is emphasized. Because, within the scope of this law, 369 billion dollars of resources have been allocated for investments in energy security and combating climate change, and it is aimed to reduce energy bills between 500 and 1000 dollars per year and to reduce carbon emissions by %40 by 2030.[4]
Despite all these efforts, it is difficult for Europe to use renewable energy to alleviate the energy crisis and at the same time to implement the targeted plans to fight climate change. The biggest reason for this is stated as it will take time to increase the capacity of renewable energy infrastructure. Therefore, it is thought that renewable energy in Europe will not offer an effective solution in the short term.
As it is expected, it is foreseeable that some EU countries will continue to meet their energy needs from fossil fuels such as natural gas and coal. Hungary, for example, is one of the countries that are most dependent on Russian gas. For this reason, the Budapest administration opposed the oil sanctions, especially within the scope of the 6th sanctions package of the EU, and was exempted from the sanctions. It was observed that the payments paid for imported oil and fossil gas in the country, which was 4 billion euros in 2019, increased to 19 billion euros in 2022. Therefore, in the face of the situation that has led to an increase in living costs, Victor Orban’s government declared an “energy emergency” in July 2022. Within the scope of the emergency, it was decided to ban energy exports and extend the working hours to increase the production of the country’s only nuclear power plant. Moreover, Hungary, which is heavily dependent on Russia for fossil fuels, signed a 15-year agreement with Gazprom for the purchase of natural gas in 2021.[5]
It can be said that Hungary will continue to provide its energy needs through fossil fuels. It is stated that some initiatives will be made to continue to serve the Matra Coal Power Plant, which is planned to be closed in 2025 in the country. The power plant stands out as one of the power plants that cause air pollution in Europe. Therefore, the possibility of the government announcing that it will keep the power plant open may bring Hungary into a confrontation with the EU, as it will directly affect the EU’s climate policies. On the other hand, if the energy policies are not compatible with the EU, the cutting of EU funds may also come to the agenda.[6]
At this point, it is useful to remind the example of Germany. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has announced that the three nuclear power plants that are currently operating but are scheduled to be closed will extend their operating period and will be in service until April 15, 2023. However, Germany has deactivated three of the six nuclear power plants in use after the disaster at the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant in Japan and decided to close the remaining three plants at the end of this year. However, the Berlin administration abandoned this decision to avoid energy shortages after Russia cut off natural gas shipments to Europe and announced that it would leave the Isar 2 and Neckarwestheim 2 nuclear power plants in the south of the country in reserve.[7]
Consequently, it can be suggested that renewable energy sources will not provide a solution for the deepening energy crisis in Europe, at least in the short term, so the use of fossil fuels will continue, even if the usage rates will increase. Therefore, the developments may negatively affect the EU’s climate change policies and make it difficult to implement the 2030 and 2050 climate targets.
[1] “Avrupa Yeşil Mutabakatı (The EU Green Deal) AB ve Türkiye’ye Yansımaları”, Syngenta, https://www.syngenta.com.tr/blog/mohammed-ahmed-mohammed-phd/avrupa-yesil-mutabakati-eu-green-deal-ab-ve-turkiyeye-yansimalari, (Date of Accession: 26.10.2022).
[2] “The European Green Deal”, European Council for an Energy Efficient Economy, https://www.eceee.org/policy-areas/test/, (Date of Accession: 26.10.2022).
[3] “AB Liderlerinin Enerji Krizi Zirvesi Başladı”, Bloomberg HT, https://www.bloomberght.com/ab-liderlerinin-enerji-krizi-zirvesi-basladi-2317612, (Date of Accession: 26.10.2022).
[4] “ABD Başkanı Biden, Enflasyonun Düşürülmesine Yönelik Yasayı İmzaladı”, Anadolu Ajansı https://www.aa.com.tr/tr/dunya/abd-baskani-biden-enflasyonun-dusurulmesine-yonelik-yasayi-imzaladi-/2662756, (Date of Accession: 26.10.2022).
[5] “Macaristan’da Artan Fiyatlar Nedeniyle ‘Enerji Acil Durumu’ İlan Edildi”, Euronews, https://tr.euronews.com/2022/07/14/macaristanda-artan-fiyatlar-nedeniyle-enerji-acil-durumu-ilan-edildi, (Date of Accession: 26.10.2022).
[6] “Hungary Risks Billions in EU Funds if It Goes Ahead with Investments in Coal”, Euractiv, https://www.euractiv.com/section/energy/opinion/hungary-risks-billions-in-eu-funds-if-it-goes-ahead-with-investments-in-coal/, (Date of Accession: 26.10.2022).
[7] “German Nuclear Scuffle: Scholz Cracks Down, Insists on Keeping All Plants”, Euractiv, https://www.euractiv.com/section/energy/news/german-nuclear-scuffle-scholz-cracks-down-insists-on-keeping-all-plants/, (Date of Accession: 26.10.2022).
