Europe - more nuclear power predicted

Countries opposed to nuclear power are coming under pressure to think again. The European Union launched its plans for tackling climate change and improving energy security. Nuclear wins on both counts.

The EU announced that it wants to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 20% from 1990 levels in an attempt to prevent climate change, the consequences of which could be catastrophic. (whether or not human activity can prevent climate change is another matter, but its seems sensible to try)

The EU said that unless the EU moved to a low carbon economy,and others followed, the world's temperature was likely to rise by two degrees, causing dangerous climate change.

The EU is also planning to reduce dependency on imported oil and gas.

It said that there should be no reduction in nuclear capacity without the introduction of comparable amounts of low-carbon forms of genedration. Andris Piebalgs, the European Energy Commissioner, said:

Nuclear Power has no carbon dioxide emissions. It is Europe's biggest source of CO₂-free energy.

Jose Manuel Barroso, the commission president, said that despite heated opinions over nuclear power, the technology's contribution was clear. He pointed out the contributions to European electricity:

Nuclear 31%, Coal 30%, Gas 20%.

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