( By Lakshmi Pendyala )
Energy ministers of the Group of Eight industrialized nations (Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, the UK and the USA), G8 met in the last month to define joint strategies to address growing energy needs and climate change. Their joint declarations made with the European Energy Commissioner were strongly in support of nuclear energy.
The three objectives of the Energy Ministers Meeting were:
- To define common strategies to cope with global climate change
- To promote energy investment for security and sustainable development
- To determine measures that will help reduce energy poverty
From the following notes in the joint declaration, it is clear that they recognize the role of nuclear energy in meeting the objectives.
“We note that, in the opinion of a growing number of countries, the use of nuclear power can diversify the energy mix, contribute to energy security while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. We believe that three guiding principles should be followed while designing the proposed energy technology platform, as follows. Focus on a limited group of key technologies during the starting phase of the platform such as solar and wind energy, smart electrical grids, low-carbon vehicles, modernization of coal-fired power stations and CCS and considering the interest of a growing number of countries, nuclear power;”
In the above statements, a clause of particular interest is, “in the opinion…and in the interest of a growing number of countries”. It affirms the increasing support for nuclear power from the industrialized nations. In sequence, International Energy Agency released a document, The Impact of the Financial and Economic Crisis on Global Energy Investment, the background paper prepared by the IEA for the meeting. One of its many statements endorsing nuclear energy reads as follows:
“Nuclear technology is the only large-scale, base-load electricity production technology with a near zero carbon footprint, apart from hydro power (where potential is often limited).”
Let’s hope that the prominence gained at the G8 Energy Ministers Meeting sends the message to the climate dialogue at the G8 Summit in July.
