Romania is the European Union member state that has reduced its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions the most compared to 1990 levels, by 77%, compared to 31% EU average, according to Energy Minister Sebastian Burduja.
„Smart Deal or Green Deal? It’s my duty to present the figures and call things like they are, even if this bothers some. Energy transition is not about unconditional sacrifice, but about building for a better future. And we cannot build a clean, truly strong economy without a solid foundation. Call it energy patriotism or just plain common sense. This means investments in renewables, yes, and a smart use of all the resources we have: natural gas, nuclear and, temporarily, coal. (…) How is Romania in terms of CO2 emissions? Well, we are the Member State that has reduced its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions the most compared to 1990 levels, i.e. by 77%, compared to the EU average of 31%. Here we can also be European champions in one area, but at what price?,” the minister wrote on his Facebook page on Tuesday.
He pointed out that Romania’s emissions currently account for about 2.6% of total EU GHG emissions, less than 0.3% of global emissions.
„Shouldn’t we support our position at European level and show, as Mario Draghi has already done in a report unanimously praised in Brussels, that the shock therapy of „greening” must be well weighed and balanced with measures to increase the competitiveness of the European economy? Equally importantly, should we not consider the implications for energy security – and therefore for national security – when we undertake to shut down coal-fired power stations without putting in place equivalent production capacity? Doesn’t this mean a dangerous dependence on imports, at best, and on toxic imports from those who have been practicing energy blackmail for decades, at worst? In whose interest?,” the minister wrote on social media.
He mentioned that he is not for giving up the EU funds from the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, from the Modernization Fund, that he is not „sabotaging” the Green Deal and that he is not canceling the decarbonization strategy of the national energy system.
„Clear proof of this is Romania’s Energy Strategy for 2025-2035, which we adopted after more than 17 years and which envisages increasing the share of renewable energy to 44% by 2035 and to 76% by 2050, strengthening the role of clean energy in the energy mix. The question is not whether we will do all this, but at what pace and at what cost,” said Sebastian Burduja.
AGERPRES
