'It's too late to be pessimistic', says Raymond Aendekerk

Not only are we going to face a very harsh winter, but there are also fundamental questions about our future that we must consider, Raymond Aendekerk, the director of Greenpeace Luxembourg, told our colleagues from RTL Radio on Wednesday morning. Our entire economic life as we know it today is being shaken to its core, Aendekerk stated.

On Thursday morning, the national energy saving plan will be unveiled. Since August and until the end of March, EU member states must save 15% of their gas consumption. The director of Greenpeace Luxembourg stresses that time has been lost, but that it is too late to be pessimistic. According to Aendekerk, everyone can save energy, for example by driving more slowly. Greenpeace has been highlighting many of the issues we face today for decades, Aendekerk pointed out. The solutions should not be sought at a local level but rather globally. "Since humans are at the root of this crisis, we can make a difference. This is not a natural disaster," Aendekerk stressed.

Despite all the problems it faces, society has never been in better shape than it is today. According to the director of Greenpeace, this is a message that should be highlighted, even though some challenges, such as the energy transition, should have been addressed sooner.

Greenpeace supports targeted actions, such as a CO2 tax instead of a fuel discount. Aendekerk added that the state "wastes a lot of money" and that a tax reform is needed. At EU level, an excess profits tax is currently being discussed.

On the subject of nuclear policy, Aendekerk said it is clear that a transition phase is necessary, but that nuclear energy is outdated, too expensive, and not safe enough. He added that some independent expert reports show that sustainable energy sources are cheaper, which he believes is also shown by the current energy crisis.