The European Union failed to adopt conclusions on climate diplomacy that had been planned for Monday (20 February) with countries struggling to agree on whether the text should explicitly promote low-carbon, or “clean” hydrogen produced from nuclear electricity or focus on hydrogen produced from renewable energy.

The disagreement is the latest between France and other countries who want more EU policies to promote nuclear energy’s contribution to cutting CO2 emissions, and those like Germany and Spain who warn this could distract from efforts to expand renewable energy.

The debate – which focuses on hydrogen produced from nuclear or renewable energy – has already delayed negotiations on new EU renewable energy targets.