Climate Change Conference May Consider Nuclear’s Role
NucNet, Editor: David Dalton, 2005 November 25
The United Nations Climate Change Conference 2005 begins in Montreal, Canada, on Monday, with the role of nuclear energy expected to be one of the topics.
The conference, from 28th November 2005 to 9th December 2005, marks the first meeting of the 156 parties to the Kyoto Protocol (see News No. 31, 15th February 2005). The conference will bring together about 8,000 delegates and will be the largest such meeting since the Kyoto Climate Conference in 1997.
Parties to the Kyoto Protocol are expected to adopt a set of decisions critical to complete the protocol’s ‘rule book’. They are expected to agree on steps to strengthen the clean development mechanism (CDM), a tool designed to support sustainable development projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions in developing countries.
Representatives of the nuclear energy industry have cited nuclear energy’s ability to generate virtually emissions-free electricity and have urged that nuclear be included in future protocol negotiations concerning the second Kyoto commitment period after 2012 and in the CDM (see News in Brief No. 60, 29th November 2004 and News No. 1, 4th January 2005).
In October 2005, a cross-party group of 25 members of the European Parliament (MEPs) signed a joint declaration on climate change and nuclear energy, calling for nuclear to play a leading role in future climate change policies, especially after 2012 (see World Nuclear Review No. 144, 21st October 2005). Two MEPs have signed since, bringing the total to 27.
Earlier this month, the European Parliament adopted a report by a Swedish MEP on climate change, but only after members voted to have an anti-nuclear clause deleted. MEPs voted to delete a clause in the report that said the CDM "must continue to exclude nuclear activities" (see World Nuclear Review No. 148, 18th November 2005).
....and how about this event, part of the Montreal conference :
Let's Take a Fresh Look at Nuclear as Part of the Solution
Side Event organized by ENS YGN and NA-YGN and featuring
Dr. Patrick Moore,
Co-founder of Greenpeace
Founder of Greenspirit
Monday, December 5, 2005
19:30-21:00
Room Mackenzie River
Palais des Congrès de Montréal
Theme:
As the debates on finding solutions to mitigate global climate change while ensuring the security of electricity supply continue, many leading politicians and scientists are calling for swift reconsideration of the role of nuclear power. This side event aims to present facts and concerns that will lead to an effective discussion on which criteria and values should be considered when determining the possible role of nuclear power in addressing environmental and economic issues. Presenting his thoughts on how nuclear power must be part of the solution to global warming will be Dr. Patrick Moore.
Keynote Speaker:
Dr. Moore has been a leader in the international environmental field for over 30 years. He is a founding member of Greenpeace and served for nine years as President of Greenpeace Canada and seven years as a Director of Greenpeace International. Dr Moore led many campaigns and was a driving force in shaping the policy and activities that made Greenpeace the world's largest environmental activist organization.
Recently, Dr. Moore has worked to promote sustainability and create consensus among those with competing concerns. He was appointed to the British Columbia Round Table on the Environment and Economy and served from 1990 to 1994. In 1990, Dr. Moore founded and chaired the BC Carbon Project, a group that endeavoured to develop a common understanding of climate change
In 1991 Dr. Moore founded Greenspirit, a consultancy focusing on environmental policy and communications in natural resources, biodiversity, energy and climate change. In 2000, he published Green Spirit - Trees are the Answer, a book that provides new insight into how forests work and the powerful role they can play in solving many of our current environmental problems.
Moderators:
* Ms. Lisa Stiles-Shell, President, North American Young Generation in Nuclear (NA-YGN)
* Martin Luthander, Representative (Sweden), European Nuclear Society Young Generation Network (ENS YGN)
*Snacks and refreshments will be served at the end of the event.
Dr Moore is/was the author of " Green Spirit - Trees are the Answer "
Yes, trees are the answer, but it apears Moore wants MORE. "Mo' Money, Mo'Money!" Gotta wonder if he took millions in bribes, like our recently busted Military decorated Congressman from California, the "Duke-stir."
Moore appears to have committed "Trees-on" ...
While I don't condon stealing posters, and would love to publically debate Moore, can the co-founder of Green Peace really not appreciate the karma of having his Uncle Tom prostitution posters stolen? At least it is non-violent protest, while Moore really sorta deserves a Hong Kong public flogging for his crimes...
World Leaders Debate Climate Change at U.N. Conference
The 157 parties to the Kyoto Protocol strengthened market mechanisms for achieving mandatory carbon dioxide reduction targets at the 11th Conference of the Parties (COP-11) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, held in Montreal Nov. 28-Dec. 9.
The Kyoto agreement binds about 40 industrialized nations to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 5.2 percent below 1990 levels by 2008-12. The United States is not a signatory.
Kyoto participants also laid the foundation for talks on a new set of emission reduction targets to take effect in 2013 and ways to achieve them. In a separate accord, a broader coalition of nearly 200 nations—including the United States—agreed to a more modest "open and nonbinding" dialogue that would not lead to any "new commitments" to reduce carbon dioxide emissions associated with climate change.
"The reason why collectively the world community succeeded here is because the debate itself is changing on the costs and benefits of climate change," said Margaret Beckett, Britain’s environment secretary. "There is growing recognition of the costs of not taking action and of the opportunities that come with taking action itself."
"Our common challenge is to address climate change while promoting development. Success requires placing climate actions in a broad agenda that promotes economic growth and energy security, reduces poverty and pollution, and mitigates emissions," said Paula Dobriansky, the U.S. State Department’s under secretary for democracy and global affairs and head of the U.S. delegation.
Patrick Moore, a leading environmentalist and co-founder of Greenpeace, attended the conference to promote nuclear energy. Moore now is chairman and chief scientist of Greenspirit Strategies Ltd.
Nuclear energy is the "only non-greenhouse-gas-emitting energy source that can effectively replace fossil fuels and satisfy global demand for energy," Moore said.
"While recent world energy forecasts predict large increases in the use of oil, coal and natural gas over the next quarter century, they estimate only a slight increase in the growth of nuclear power in comparison with other energy sources. For the sake of our energy security, and to help us honor our responsibility to protect the environment, the outlook for nuclear energy must change."
Clay Sell, Deputy Energy Secretary, U.S.-Japan Nuclear Energy Conference, Washington, D.C., Nov. 21, 2005