{"id":18151,"date":"2021-11-08T18:05:33","date_gmt":"2021-11-08T17:05:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eko-unia.org.pl\/?p=18151"},"modified":"2021-11-08T18:43:13","modified_gmt":"2021-11-08T17:43:13","slug":"you-have-a-chance-at-the-upcoming-meeting-to-stop-the-expansion-of-the-fossil-gas-grid-and-further-billions-channeled-into-the-fossil-fuel-sector","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eko-unia.org.pl\/en\/you-have-a-chance-at-the-upcoming-meeting-to-stop-the-expansion-of-the-fossil-gas-grid-and-further-billions-channeled-into-the-fossil-fuel-sector\/","title":{"rendered":"You have a chance, at the upcoming meeting, to stop the expansion of the fossil gas grid and further billions channeled into the fossil fuel sector"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Dear participants of the 9th of November 5th PCI list High-Level Decision-Making meeting We, over 100 civil society organisations from across Europe are writing to you concerning the upcoming 5th list of Projects of Common Interest (PCI list) High-Level Decision\u0002Making Meeting taking place on the 9th of November. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are aware that on this occasion decision-makers will discuss – to the exclusion of the public – the projects to be included on the 5th PCI list which will be published later in November. We are highly concerned about the plans to include fossil gas mega projects on the list, awarding fossil fuel infrastructure a top EU priority label and making these projects eligible for public financing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The world is at a crossroads today, with a closing window of opportunity to act and prevent the worst impacts of the climate crisis. This summer across Europe we saw raging wildfires, as well as deadly floods and devastating storms – reminding us that climate change is already happening in front of our eyes. This is not a future threat, this is a present reality, impacting the lives of citizens all across Europe, and more widely, the world. Please take a few moments to bear this in mind as you draw up a list of infrastructure projects that, if they include fossil gas, will fuel, not fix, this crisis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We need to act now, and move rapidly away from all fossil fuels. Adopting yet another fossil fuel priority list with the 5th PCI list also counteracts both the Paris Climate Agreement and heavily undermines the European Green Deal. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We clearly cannot afford to further expand the EU\u2019s gas infrastructure with fossil gas mega projects that are not needed1 , risk creating costly stranded assets, and fueling further conflicts. These projects lock us into further decades of dependence on fossil gas which costs the climate, and as proven by the recent energy prices spike, costs consumers dearly too – exacerbating energy poverty, and the impact on the already energy poor. Europe is being handed the bill to pay for delayed action towards a just transition, increasing energy efficiency measures and rolling out cheap renewable energy generation.2 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A 5th PCI list that includes mega projects such as Poseidon, Baltic Pipe, BRUA and EastMed pipelines as well as expansion projects all along the Southern Gas Corridor and LNG terminals in Greece and Croatia does not act in the \u201ccommon interest\u201d of Europeans. Instead, if all the proposed gas PCI projects were built, they would cost over \u20ac30 billion, with close to 1 The Artelys study showed already during the drafting of the current 4th PCI list, that there is no need for new gas infrastructure in order to ensure security of supply 2 To MEPs in Strasbourg European Commission Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans highlighted in September that \u201chad we had the Green Deal five years earlier, we would not be in this position because then we would have less dependence on fossil fuels and on natural gas\u201d. \u20ac800 million required year after year to operate this infrastructure.3 That\u2019s over \u20ac30 billion not being spent on a transition to a clean, fair, future. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is a powerful, and growing resistance against these PCI gas projects. Both the public consultations on the 4th and the 5th PCI list candidates saw over 99% and 96% of the respondents respectively opposing further support for fossil gas projects.4 Still, the highly intransparent process of defining PCIs, which mirrors many requests by the fossil gas industry rather than the demands of citizens, led to dozens of fossil fuel projects on the priority list in the previous round. European citizens are therefore relying on you to show climate leadership and we ask that you act on behalf of European citizens, not the gas industry. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You have a chance, at the upcoming meeting, to stop the expansion of the fossil gas grid and further billions channeled into the fossil fuel sector. We call on you to stand up for a 5th PCI list free from fossil gas on November 9th. Kind regards, Frida Kieninger, Food & Water Action Europe Eilidh Robb, Friends of the Earth Europe <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kind regards, Frida Kieninger, Food & Water Action Europe Eilidh Robb, Friends of the Earth Europe <\/p>\n\n\n\n

List of signatories: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Europe and International CEE Bankwatch Network <\/p>\n\n\n\n