This week, Austria faced a major defeat in its high-profile legal battle against the European Union’s controversial decision to classify natural gas and nuclear energy as “sustainable” investments. The EU’s General Court ruled that the European Commission acted within its authority when it added both energy sources to the EU’s green taxonomy back in 2022. According to the court, nuclear and gas projects can—under specific conditions—be considered as contributing to climate mitigation and energy transition efforts.
Austria strongly opposed this move, arguing that nuclear energy violates the “do no significant harm” principle because of unresolved waste issues, while gas, as a fossil fuel, simply cannot be branded green. Environmental advocates warn the ruling could weaken Europe’s climate credibility, even as countries like Poland and Bulgaria support gas as a bridge away from coal. With Austria joined by Spain and Denmark in voicing strong objections, this decision highlights the growing divide within the EU on what truly counts as “sustainable” energy in the race to net zero. More