EU Taxonomy & Nuclear Energy
EU Taxonomy & Nuclear Energy
15th March 2022
This webinar examined the European Union's Sustainability Taxonomy and its implications for nuclear energy in Ireland. Our expert speakers discussed how the EU's classification of nuclear as a sustainable activity impacts investment, energy policy, and climate targets across member states.
Expert Speakers
Billy Kelleher MEP
Member of European Parliament, Cork
Billy represents Ireland South for Renew Europe and sits on the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs, with a substitute role on the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI). He has been actively involved in EU energy and climate policy, bringing Irish perspectives to European discussions on sustainable finance and the energy transition.
Jessica Johnson
Director of Communications & EU Stakeholders, FORATOM
Jessica leads stakeholder engagement and communications for FORATOM, the Brussels-based trade association representing the European nuclear industry. With over 15 years of experience in EU affairs, she previously worked for the European Cement Association. Jessica brings deep expertise in EU policy processes, sustainable finance, and cross-sector collaboration on climate solutions.
Discussion Topics
- EU Taxonomy Overview: Understanding the framework for classifying environmentally sustainable economic activities
- Nuclear Inclusion: The scientific assessment and political process behind including nuclear in the taxonomy
- Technical Screening Criteria: Requirements for nuclear projects to qualify as sustainable investments
- Irish Implications: How the taxonomy affects Ireland despite the Section 18 ban
- Investment Flows: Impact on financing for energy projects and climate targets
- Policy Alignment: Reconciling EU sustainable finance rules with Irish law
Watch the Webinar
The full discussion and Q&A session, moderated by Allan Carson (18for0 member), is available on YouTube.
Watch on YouTubeKey Insights
The EU Taxonomy represents a significant shift in how Europe approaches sustainable finance and energy policy. By recognizing nuclear energy as sustainable under specific conditions, the EU has acknowledged the technology's role in achieving climate neutrality by 2050. For Ireland, this creates a complex situation where EU policy supports nuclear investment while domestic law prohibits it, raising questions about policy coherence and climate ambition.