Nord Stream 2 Has Been Halted But Is It Good News?
As Russia sends troops into Ukraine, Germany has responded by halting the certification process of Nord Stream 2. And without the certification, the pipeline connecting Russia and Germany will not see any natural gas flow.
While it is a serious economic blow to Russia and could see gas prices rise further, it is a big win for the environment. As this will help wane Europe off of carbon-emitting fossil fuels.
That said, there is still a chance the process could reverse as this is a highly political move.
Let’s take a look at what the cancelation of the Nord Stream 2 will do for the environment.
It Could Speed Up Electrification In Europe
Some of the main uses of natural gas in Europe include heating and stoves. And the good news is that there is a solution. Electrify these systems and appliances. This wouldn’t even involve any new technology as it already exists.
As the instability of natural gas and oil prices increases, the only logical response is to look for a less volatile alternative.
Electricity is the perfect solution. It can be generated from renewable sources, thus significantly reducing emissions and eliminate the need to transport these substances throughout Europe.
On a political front, it also lessens Europes reliance on Russia’s energy, thus, Russia ends up with less influence on the region.
The Pipeline Went Against Europes Own Pledges
For those that have followed the construction of Nord Stream 2, you are well versed in the political rift it created for a variety of reasons. One of the biggest is that it went against Europe’s goal of reaching net-zero by 2050.
Net-zero is a difficult thing to achieve, and it is not possible when you rely on fossil fuel for energy. Thus, this pipeline should never have been approved in the first place. Yet it was, and that’s why even after its completion in September 2021, it has still not been used.
The opposition is very much alive, and Russian aggression has tipped the scale in favor of not using it.
And going a step further, the recent COP26 summit finally acknowledged fossil fuels as the problem. Time is running out for fossil fuels in Europe, and the rest of the world. Russia’s use of it is just accelerating the transition.
Gas Price Concerns Are Real And Coming
There is no denying one major problem that will result from this announcement. Gas prices and the cost of energy, in general, will increase.
And with inflation in mind, it’s not something Europe or the rest of the world can take lightly. That said, as the climate change clock ticks down, it may be a necessary evil. But the average driver isn’t going to choose it voluntarily.
Hopefully, the volatility of gas and oil will accelerate the world into ditching fossil fuels for good. If not, the current practices will only continue.
That said, climate change won’t wait around so any acceleration of the process is a good thing.
Robert has been following and writing about environmental stories for years at GreenGeeks. He believes that highlighting environmentally friendly practices can help promote change in every household.
