Twenty countries called this Saturday, in a joint statement, to triple global nuclear energy capacity by 2050, compared to 2020, to reduce dependence on coal and gas.
The announcement was made by John Kerry, US climate envoy, during the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28), which runs until December 12 in Dubai.
China and Russia, the world’s largest nuclear power plant builders, are not among the signatories.
In addition to the United States, France and the United Arab Emirates, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic, Finland, Ghana, Hungary, Japan, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Ukraine, South Korea and United Kingdom.
“The declaration recognizes the fundamental role of nuclear energy in achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 and in maintaining the goal of (limiting global warming to) 1.5°C,” the text states.
“We know, based on science, facts and evidence, that we cannot achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 without nuclear power,” said John Kerry.
The President of Romania, Clausus Johannites, explained that nuclear energy represents for the European country “a stable energy source that contributes to energy security and decarbonization.”
The signatory countries also ask international financial institutions, such as the World Bank, to include nuclear energy in approved financing.
“There are legal provisions, sometimes in certain international credit institutions, that exclude nuclear energy. I think this is completely obsolete,” Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), told France-Presse.
Promoters of nuclear power say it is flexible, emits virtually no greenhouse gases and is an unparalleled way to produce abundant, clean electricity.
On the other hand, some environmentalists point out negative points, such as the risk of accidents and the high cost of this energy.
Source: TSF
