#IPCC: Nuclear must be part of the solution says #FORATOM

According to Debra Roberts, co-chairwoman of IPCC Working Group II, the aim of this report is to provide policymakers with the information they need in order to make the right choices in the fight against climate change.

“This report notes quite rightly that nuclear power has a key role to play,” said FORATOM Director General Yves Desbazeille. “It comes at a perfect moment as the EU is currently working on its 2050 low-carbon economy strategy[1]. Renewables alone cannot solve the climate crisis and betting too much on CO₂ emitting gas could also have harmful lock-in effects in the long term.  Low-carbon, flexible nuclear must form part of the energy mix – a reality which is often overlooked in Brussels. We hope that this report will encourage policymakers to embrace all low-carbon energy sources.”

Entitled Global Warming of 1.5°C, the report focuses on the potential impacts of global warming and related greenhouse gas emission pathways.  In order to limit global warming to 1.5°C, “rapid and far-reaching” transitions in land, energy, industry, buildings, transport, and cities are deemed necessary. CO₂ emissions would need to fall by about 45% from 2010 levels by 2030, reaching ‘net zero’ around 2050. The contribution of nuclear power increases significantly under all IPCC scenarios which aim to keep global warming under 1.5°C.

FORATOM’s position on the 'Strategy for long-term EU greenhouse gas emissions reductions'

[1] Strategy for long-term EU greenhouse gas emissions reductions