The United States, France and the United Arab Emirates are some of the countries that have signed the declaration that considers nuclear energy necessary to achieve carbon neutrality.
Today, Saturday, in a joint statement, about 20 countries called for tripling global nuclear energy capacity by 2050, compared to 2020, in order to reduce dependence on coal and gas.
This was stated by John Kerry, the United States climate envoy, during the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28), which continues until December 12 in Dubai.
China and Russia, the two largest countries building nuclear power plants in the world, were not among the signatories to the treaty. In addition to the United States, France, the United Arab Emirates, Bulgaria, Canada, the Czech Republic, Finland, Ghana, Hungary, Japan, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Ukraine, South Korea, and the United Kingdom.
“The declaration recognizes the essential role of nuclear energy in achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 and in maintaining the (limiting global warming) target of 1.5°C,” it says.
“We know, based on science, facts and evidence, that we cannot achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 without nuclear power,” John Kerry said. Romanian President Klausus Iohanitis explained that nuclear energy represents for the European country “a stable energy source that contributes to energy security and decarbonization.”
The signatory countries also call on international financial institutions, such as the World Bank, to include nuclear energy in approved financing.
“There are legal provisions, sometimes in some international credit institutions, that exclude nuclear energy,” Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, told AFP. “I think this is completely outdated.”
Promoters of nuclear power say it is flexible, emits almost no greenhouse gases, and is an unparalleled way to produce abundant, clean electricity.
On the other hand, some environmentalists point to negative points, such as the risk of accidents and the high cost of this energy.
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