[앵커]
The world is seriously ill due to the energy crisis caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The global village is at a crossroads whether such an energy crisis will be an obstacle to ‘carbon neutrality’ in the future or rather a facilitator.
This is reporter Im Soo-geun.
[기자]
More than 1,500 people have already died in Portugal and Spain alone in a heat wave scorching across Europe.
Britain, which recorded 40 degrees Celsius on the 19th, as well as Northern Europe, Denmark, which is far from the heat wave, recorded the highest temperature in July at 35.9 degrees, breaking the record for the first time in 81 years.
Researchers are looking for the cause of the unprecedented high temperature phenomenon in climate change.
[조지 코크 / 노던 애리조나대학 교수 : 우리는 현재 기후 비상사태에 처해 있습니다. 화석에너지에 계속 의존하면 상황이 악화할 뿐입니다.]
The European Union is facing an energy shortage due to Russia’s cut gas supply.
Although an urgent agreement was reached with Israel, Egypt and Azerbaijan to expand gas supply, it was recommended that gas consumption be reduced by 15% by the spring of next year.
[우르줄라 폰데어라이엔 / EU 집행위원장 : 가스 소비를 줄여야 합니다. 유럽연합에는 힘든 요구인 것을 알지만 우리를 보호하기 위해선 필요한 일입니다.]
Germany, which has reduced its gas supply from Russia by 60%, is also emphasizing the elimination of fossil fuels.
The German Chancellor said, “Now is the right time”, saying that the global heatwave, wildfires and floods show the justification for keeping the global temperature rise below 1.5 degrees.
[올라프 숄츠 / 독일 총리 : 독일은 2045년까지 최초의 탄소중립 산업국가가 되고자 합니다. 푸틴의 잔혹한 우크라이나 침공, 에너지 무기화, 가격 급등도 이 목표달성을 촉진할 뿐입니다.]
The problem is that the ‘fossil fuel renaissance’ such as coal and gas is a concern right now due to the energy crisis from Russia.
Germany and France are calling for the restart of coal-fired power, which was left as a reserve power, and even the German opposition is demanding that the operation of nuclear power plants be extended.
Attention is focused on whether the energy crisis triggered by the invasion of Ukraine will speed up each country’s ‘carbon neutrality’ movement.
This is YTN Im Soo-geun.
YTN Sugeun Lim (sglim@ytn.co.kr)
※ ‘Your report becomes news’
[카카오톡] Search YTN to add a channel
[전화] 02-398-8585
[메일] social@ytn.co.kr
[저작권자(c) YTN 무단전재 및 재배포 금지]