[ RadSafe ] UN Report on Nuclear Power

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Nuclear power will save the world, UN scientists  claim
Last updated at 10:35am on 30th April 2007
 
 
Leading scientists are today expected to back a major expansion of nuclear  
power as a way of saving the world from global warming.  
Other measures in a United Nations report include the use of GM crops to  
produce biofuels and the "capture and storage" underground of harmful CO2 gases.  
 
More than 2,000 scientists have contributed to the intergovernmental panel on 
 climate change (IPCC) report and 400 of them met today in Bangkok to 
finalise it  before publication on Friday. The report is the biggest to study the 
practical  actions that could reduce emissions and its findings will play a key 
role in  Kyoto negotiations which will take place in December.  
The new report is the third this year by the UN climate panel. An IPCC report 
 in February said it was at least 90 per cent certain that mankind was to 
blame  for global warming and on 6 April it warned of more hunger, droughts and 
rising  seas.  
"We're moving from two very sobering reports to what we can do about climate  
change," said Achim Steiner, the head of the UN's environment programme. "And 
we  can do it."  
As well as plans for more nuclear power, genetically modified biofuels and  
carbon storage, the report sets out a vision of the future that is a mixture of 
 existing policies, such as energy efficiency and renewable energy from wind 
and  wave farms, and more futuristic ideas for hydrogen car fleets and 
"intelligent"  buildings which can control energy use.  
In addition, the report makes it clear that both developed countries,  
including the United States, and developing nations, in particular India and  China, 
will have to play major roles.  
However, the scientists in Bangkok have already voiced fears that some  
countries, including China and the US, will say the proposed measures are  
unrealistic. Michel Petit, a member of the French delegation, said: "Some  countries 
may challenge these figures."  
The report has also angered environmentalists. Tony Juniper of Friends of the 
 Earth said: "Nuclear reactors are dangerous and land clearance and chemical  
pesticides and fertilisers used to grow fuel crops can cause huge 
environmental  damage."



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