Climate Change: a Role for Nuclear Energy

26Nov
1997

Dr. Wolf-J. Schmidt-Koster, Secretary General of FORATOM, in his introductory remarks noted that governments will meet in Kyoto from 1-11 December to negotiate a Climate Change Treaty. If agreement can be reached, the Parties to the Climate Change Convention will commit to legally binding targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 2010. Once this target has been agreed the challenging task of implementing the agreement must begin. As nuclear power emits almost no greenhouse gases and provides one third of the current electricity in the European Union, nuclear energy should be considered as one option in any future energy programme.

Cathryn Holmgren, Vice President of Sydkraft International, made a presentation about Sweden’s decision to close two nuclear units at Barsebþck beginning next summer, and its effect on Sweden’s ability to reduce emissions. Sweden’s electricity needs will be met by increased imports of fossil energy from Denmark and possibly nuclear electricity from Finland and Ignalina in Lithuania.