Search
Close this search box.

‘This is a blessing in disguise’: Climate activists happy! ‘Good riddance Nord Stream 2. Now Europe has a golden opportunity to ‘meet global climate goals to keep our planet livable’

https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/23/opinions/nord-stream-2-germany-putin-gas-energy-hockenos/index.html

By Paul Hockenos is a Berlin-based writer focusing on renewable energy in Europe. He is the author of four books on European issues, most recently “Berlin Calling: A Story of Anarchy, Music, the Wall and the Birth of the New Berlin.” The opinions in this article are those of the author. View more opinion on CNN.

Paul Hockenos article at CNN – Excerpt: Europe may rely on Russia for around 35% of its natural gas — Germany over 50% — but there are green alternatives that can step in and at the same time serve the purpose of addressing the ever more urgent climate crisis. …

 

The pipeline, which would have constituted Europe’s largest fossil fuel project, flew in the face of the 2015 UN Paris accord by ignoring Europe’s commitment to lower greenhouse emissions and keep global temperatures from rising less than 1.5 degrees Celsius. …

 

So what are the options? Of course, there are green alternatives to natural gas — such as biogas, wood pellets, power-to-gas, and other synthetic fuels. But the buildout potential of biogas, namely gases produced from raw materials such as waste and plant material, is limited. …

 

The EU intends to have renewables account for 40% of its energy supply by 2030, which means more than doubling wind power and solar energy production. Germany’s new government has pledged to quadruple solar power by installation of solar panels and more than double wind power production, largely by cutting red tape. …

 

Europeans have to realize that they are living in precarious, crisis-fraught times. Ramped up green transformation policies are required now for two reasons: to break free of Putin’s energy stranglehold on Europe and meet global climate goals to keep our planet livable.

#

End CNN except

#

 

Jen Psaki says Biden wants to reduce our dependence on foreign oil by using green energy, not by expanding U.S. energy productionJohn Kerry fears Russia-Ukraine war will distract from climate change

‘This is a blessing in disguise’: Climate activists happy! ‘Good riddance Nord Stream 2. Now Europe has a golden opportunity to ‘meet global climate goals to keep our planet livable’

EU climate chief Frans Timmermans: ‘Putin threatens Ukraine because he wants to divert attention from climate problem’

New York Times reports that ‘the reliability & resilience of the electricity grid’ are ‘top concerns for climate change deniers’

Share: