Current Gas Supply Crisis Shows Need For Transition To Renewable Energy:
The Spokespersons of the European Green Party today said that the current dispute over gas supplies between Russia and Ukraine and the ensuing cuts in supply to several EU member states shows the urgent need for the EU to invest in the transition towards a renewable energy system.
EGP Co-Spokesperson Ulrike Lunacek said: "The dispute between Russia and Ukraine and the fact that several EU member states are already experiencing disruption to their gas supplies is a stark reminder of the vulnerability of the EU's energy supplies and of the urgent need to change the way we meet our energy demands. EU institutions and member states must make major investments in renewable sources of energy and greater energy efficiency which will not only combat climate change and create millions of jobs but will also reduce the EU 's dependence on energy supplied from outside the EU, with all the uncertainty and insecurity which that causes."
EGP Co-Spokesperson Philippe Lamberts continued: "In terms of the current dispute between Russia and Ukraine, it is unacceptable in the 21st century for countries to use resources to reach political aims .The EU must do whatever it can to help resolve the disagreement and should offer to facilitate negotiations between the two countries so that this current crisis can be resolved quickly and supplies can be restored. In the medium to long term though, we reiterate our position that the EU will only be able to have a secure supply of energy when we have moved towards an energy system based on renewables and greater energy efficiency."
