As world leaders are negotiating ahead of the United Nations Climate conference in Copenhagen from 7 to 18 December, the implications for nuclear power are still unclear. Heads of state are to decide on greenhouse gas reductions by 2020 to prolong and reinforce the commitment of the Kyoto protocol. The commonly agreed goal is to limit temperature rise to 2°C to avoid irreversible damages to environment, but it remains to be seen which means they will choose to achieve it.

The Kyoto protocol provided that developed countries had to reduce their CO2 emissions by 5% below 1990 levels by 2012. However the United States that accounts for over a third of global emissions has always refused to ratify it. The Copenhagen summit is expected to set reduction targets until 2020. The undeniable consequences of climate change require urgent actions. Scientists recommend cutting emissions by 80 to 95% in developed countries by 2050 and 25 to 40% by 2020 to avoid climate disasters. The EU at the forefront of combating global warming has adopted an energy and climate change policy that commits EU member States to reduce their emissions by 20% by 2020 and it could be raised to 30% if an international agreement was found. The EU also called during a summit in Brussels on 29 & 30 October for “all Parties to agree to global emissions reductions of at least 50%, and aggregate developed country emission reductions of at least 80-95% by 2050 below 1990”.

On 25 November 2009, the European Parliament adopted a Resolution on the EU Strategy for the Copenhagen Conference on Climate Change (COP 15). The Resolution “stresses that an international shift towards a low-carbon economy will consider nuclear energy as an important part of the energy mix in the medium term”. It “points out, however, that the issue of safety and security of the nuclear fuel cycle must be addressed in an appropriate manner at international level in order to ensure the highest possible level of safety”. The Parliament’s delegation will consist of approximately 50 MEPs from all political parties and will be chaired by MEP Mr. Jo Leinen (S&D, Germany). Mr. Leinen is the Chairman of the Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI). Furthermore, Connie Hedegaard, who will chair the summit, was recommended by EC President Barroso as candidate for the newly-created European Commission’s Climate Action portfolio.

Whatever the outcome of the conference, the question of how the goals will be achieved should be raised. The Kyoto protocol introduced a number of flexible mechanisms (CDM, JI and International Emissions Trading) that are aimed at helping countries meet their targets. The protocol incorporates conditions that effectively exclude nuclear energy as an option for implementation under JI and CDM. Those restrictions on nuclear energy do not apply to emission trading. However it is unlikely that this exclusion has had any negative impact on nuclear expansion, but it could be the case if the exclusion was included in the forthcoming Copenhagen agreement. So far during negotiations, so-called non-papers have been put forward, some of them are calling for nuclear and other technologies like Carbon Capture and Sequestration (CCS) and natural carbon sinks (prevention of deforestation) to be included in the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) and ex Soviet States are even considering including nuclear in the Joint Implementation. However a number of States have put forward another non-paper regarding a new mechanism called Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMAs) in Developing Countries that would exclude nuclear power.

In any case in the global fight to halt irreversible global warming and prevent climate catastrophes, no low-carbon technology can be discarded and nuclear power’s climate credentials are undeniable. Let’s hope decision-makers will take the right decisions at Copenhagen.

For further information, please consult the Website of COP15.
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