The question is simple - what is the alternative to a new type of nuclear power to achieve true climate neutrality in any weather, writes Kalev Kallemets (Ph.D.), Chairman of the Board of Fermi Energia OÜ, in an opinion piece published in Äripäev.
The Estonian government has just approved a climate neutrality target, and it is expected to be formally endorsed by the European Union in the coming months. But how do we get there, given that today's Europe emits 4,500 million tonnes of carbon dioxide a year, or burns hundreds of millions of tonnes of petroleum products in its cars and coal and natural gas in its power plants?
The new European Commission President aims to include new sectors in emissions trading, such as shipping, transport, construction, and to reduce the allocation of free allowances to aviation. This will directly involve CO2 emissions and, equally, making decarbonisation more cost-effective. In order to avoid this damaging impact on European industry, the new Energy Commissioner Kadri Simpson will be tasked, in line with the Commission President's mission statement, to develop a carbon tariff to tax imports of metals, plastics and other products from China, Russia and elsewhere that are produced with high carbon emissions.
Where is the escape route? Read more from Äripäev.