KLIMAKRISE? KERNKRAFT!
Nuclear Energy for Climate
Germany is failing to meet its climate targets. Germany aims to be CO₂-neutral by 2050.
It cannot meet its targets without rapidly phasing out coal, but it does not plan on ending coal until 2038. Meanwhile, its six remaining nuclear plants are scheduled to be shut down by the end of 2022.
Germany decided to phase out nuclear power in 2002.
Nuklearia Chairman Rainer Klute observes, ”Decommissioning the six remaining nuclear power plants will cause additional emissions of a massive 50-75 million tons of CO₂ per year.” Instead of low-CO₂ nuclear power plants, he said, it would be better to shut down CO₂-intensive coal-fired power plants. "That would really make a difference. Because every additional gram of CO₂ is too much, let alone millions of tons every year.”.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) considers that keeping climate warming to 1.5°C cannot be achieved without nuclear energy.
Nuclear power also requires extremely little space compared to wind and solar, a great help in preserving nature and wildlife.
German per-capita emissions are 10.4 metric tons compared with 6.6 for France. The average cost of electricity for German households has doubled since 2000.
A recent survey shows a majority of Germans in favour of nuclear energy for protection against climate change.
Extending the operating lives of nuclear power plants is the most cost-effective way of generating clean energy. Nuklearia is calling for demonstrations again this year at the sites of the nuclear power plants.
References
German
https://critical-climate-action.de/
English
https://www.statista.com/chart/24306/carbon-emissions-per-capita-by-country/
- Julie Wornan