Nuclear energy makes its come back in climate negotiations

During the Copenhagen Summit of December, decision-makers ought not only to reach an ambitious agreement, but also to refuse « false solutions ».

However, although it had been rightly excluded from Kyoto mechanisms, nuclear power made its comeback, during the negociation round in Bangkok in October. It becomes more precise that this technology, even if dangerous, expensive and inefficient to fight against climate change, could be included in a new climate agreement. Many countries actually wish this energy source could benefit from financing from industrialized countries in the frame of developping countries’ future mitigation actions.

This stance is defended amongst others by Canada, United States, Japan, Mexico, India, the African Group... and France!

NGOs denounce this proposition, and particularly France’s selfishness in giving priority to its industrial interests over common interest. Should nuclear energy become eligible for financing in this frame, the nuclear industry would thus benefit from huge public subsidies.

« France is again trying to push its industry while deliberately ignoring the dangers of nuclear energy (accident risks, contaminated ecosystems, unsolvable waste problem, proliferation...) and its inefficiency in the fight against climate change. Nuclear power is irrelevant for the majority of greenhouse gas emissions, could solve nothing in the narrow time span remaining to act, and is vulnerable to climate hazards. Besides, its emissions are not insignificant, while many nuclear-free energy scenarios allow the emission cuts we require. », declares Charlotte Mijeon from Réseau Sortir du nucléaire (French Network for Nuclear Phaseout).

« Since it requires too heavy infrastructures and financing, nuclear power suits developing countries particularly bad. Should it be included in the Copenhagen agreement, it will take most of the funds and deprive developing countries from crucial financial support to mitigate their emissions through real solutions (renewable energies, energy efficiency, stopping deforestation, etc.) » reminds Morgane Créach from Réseau Action Climat (Climate Action Network France).

The last preparatory discussions before the Copenhagen Summit on climate change will take place in Barcelona from the 2nd to the 6th November. In the frame of the campaign « Don’t nuke the climate! », Sortir du nucléaire will be present there with some of its national and international partners to follow the discussions and put pressure on negotiators to prevent nuclear energy from being included in emission mitigation mechanisms.

Many actions will take place in the coming weeks all over the world in relation to the campaign "Don’t nuke the climate!". Citizens from all over the world are invited to sign an international petition translated in ten languages (www.dont-nuke-the-climate.org) which is already supported by more than 280 partners and will be handed over to decision-makers in Copenhagen to ask them to refuse including nuclear energy within options to fight against climate change.

Contact:

On the nuclear issue:

 Charlotte Mijeon, Réseau Sortir du nucléaire: + 33 (0)6 75 36 20 20
charlotte.mijeon sortirdunucleaire.fr

 Vladimir Slivyak, Ecodefense: + 7 903 29997584
ecodefense gmail.com

 Pep Puig, Tanquem les Nuclears : + 34 629 932 908
peppuig eic.ictnet.es

On climate issue:
 Morgane Créach, Réseau Action climat: + 33 (0)6 89 78 44 93
morgane rac-f.org