The Russian Foreign Ministry's special climate representative warned about the socio-economic consequences of EU climate policy
Quick Look
- The special representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry on climate issues, Sergei Kononuchenko, said that the leadership of EU countries, trying to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, does not take into account the socio-economic consequences of their decisions, which hit the pockets of the local population.
- He noted that cutting off natural gas supplies is only possible if there is a stable, reliable and affordable alternative, citing Eurostat data on a 20.7% rise in producer prices in the EU energy sector in August.
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Why It Matters
The EU is actively promoting its climate agenda, including reducing greenhouse gas emissions and transitioning to clean energy, which is sparking debate about the socio-economic costs of such measures.
The leadership of the EU countries, in pursuit of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, forgets to calculate the socio-economic consequences of their own decisions, which “hit the pockets” of the local population, Sergei Kononuchenko, special representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry on climate issues, told RIA Novosti.
“The problem is that the leadership of EU countries, in pursuit of a sharp reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, often forgets to calculate the socio-economic consequences of their own decisions, which ultimately hit the pockets of the local population,” Kononuchenko said.
As the diplomat noted, at the current stage, one of the main negotiating tracks within the climate agenda is the issue of energy, on which the European Union is promoting its so-called just transition and promoting clean energy sources.
“It is possible to stop supplies of natural gas, but there must be a stable and reliable alternative that is achievable from a financial point of view,” Kononuchenko added.
According to Eurostat data published on October 5, producer prices in the energy sector of the European Union at the end of August increased by 20.7% in annual terms, in the eurozone - by 21%, while excluding energy, industrial prices increased only 3.3-3.4%.
Open Questions
- What specific measures does the EU plan to take to mitigate the socio-economic impact of climate policy?
- What is the deadline for the transition to alternative energy sources in the EU?
- Which EU countries are most vulnerable to rising energy prices due to climate policy?
