Greenpeace and other environmental organizations sue the European Commission over taxonomy

Eight organizations, including Greenpeace, filed a lawsuit with the EU Court of Justice against the European Commission on 18 April over its decision to classify nuclear energy and gas as sustainable sources. Other organizations, including ClientEarth, the WWF European Policy Office and Friends of the Earth Germany, also plan to file a lawsuit, but theirs will concern natural gas only.

The taxonomy is intended to define the conditions under which energy investments can be considered sustainable. Last year, however, a heated debate erupted among member states over the controversial inclusion of natural gas and nuclear energy among sustainable investments. Countries such as Spain and Denmark argued that it was not credible to label a CO2-emitting fossil fuel as climate-friendly. Poland and Bulgaria, by contrast, were among the countries that welcomed rules supporting investment in natural gas. In theory, it would help them move away from more polluting coal.

On 9 September 2022, Greenpeace organizations asked the Commission to review its decision to include fossil gas and nuclear power in the taxonomy. The request was later rejected, prompting them to ask the EU General Court to annul the Commission’s rejection and declare the inclusion of fossil gas and nuclear power in the EU taxonomy invalid.