Letter
NO NUKES IN THE CDM OF THE KYOTO PROTOCOL
On November 7th the EU Council of European Environment Ministers
met for the last time before The Hague climate negotiations to prepare
a common position. Whilst FoE welcomes the positive signs of the
Environment Ministers' committment to a strong Kyoto Protocol, on
the same day Loyola De Palacio, the Energy Commissioner, made yet
more pro-nuclear statements at a press conference. In contrast to
the Council's stated commitment to a positive list of non-CO2 emitting
energy production in the Clean Development Mechanism, the Energy
Commissioner chooses to persist in her support of nuclear power.
The letter below is a joint NGO statement from Friends of the Earth
International, along with Climate Network Europe and Greenpeace
demanding that the EU sticks to its good intentions to keep nuclear
power out of the Kyoto Protocol.
Brussels, 10 November 2000
Dear Sir/Madam
The sixth Conference of Parties to the UN Framework Convention on
Climate Change begins next week in The Hague. During the second
week, Vice President Loyola de Palacio will make a presentation
on climate policy. The undersigned NGOs are writing to express serious
concern about positions she may forward which would endanger a successful
result to the negotiations.
Now reaching a crucial stage, the UNFCCC negotiations are delicately
balanced. Appearing as Vice President of the Commission, Mrs. de
Palacio will be assumed by Parties to reflect EU positions accurately.
However, there is the distinct possibility that she will declare
her support for nuclear energy to combat climate change, including
in the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), directly contradicting
the negotiating position of the EU.
The Council decided in June 2000, and reaffirmed its position on
November 7, to push for a CDM positive list that does not include
nuclear energy. In addition to finding that nuclear energy will
not help sustainable energy development in CDM host countries, the
Council recognises that nuclear is not “clean”. As EU Environment
President Voynet stated following the Council meeting on November
7, “the position of the EU Environment Council is crystal clear
on this…nobody wants to exchange the greenhouse effect for a nuclear
chain reaction.” But, according to a Reuters news report of November
8, 2000, Mrs. de Palacio has strongly implied that she favours the
inclusion of nuclear power in the CDM. In this report she was reported
as saying "Nuclear is ‘clean’ under the Kyoto aims—that's a fact...From
my point of view it is very clear and no one can say under a rational
and logical approach any different. Under the Kyoto Protocol approach
for me there is no doubt." This simply contradicts the Council’s
approach.
We expect Mrs. de Palacio, as she has done at many recent public
gatherings, to refer to the Green Paper on security of energy supply,
which will be presented to the Commission for approval at the same
time as the UNFCCC negotiations reach a critical final stage. This
document will very likely defend the use of nuclear energy by expressing
doubt about the feasibility of reaching Kyoto and further climate
change targets without retention or even aggressive expansion of
nuclear power. These sentiments contradict the EU’s efforts to maintain
a position based on environmental integrity and sustainable development
that distinguishes it from many other industrialised country parties.
By emphasising the supposed difficulty of achieving the Kyoto targets,
Mrs. de Palacio implicitly supports those who favour unlimited response
methods – such as nuclear – or oppose the EU position on supplementarity,
one of the cornerstones of its negotiating position. Contradicting
EU positions at a moment when all strength will be needed could
cause severe disruption.
The domestic implications of the Green Paper are no less troubling.
In attempting to breath new life into the nuclear industry, a segment
of the Commission is flying in the face of political, economic,
and environmental priorities. Measures being elaborated through
the Commission’s own ECCP multi-stakeholder working groups meet
the challenge of climate change policy without nuclear energy. The
liberalised electricity market is rejecting it for cost reasons.
A decades-long debate over environmental and safety concerns have
led to rejection of nuclear in the majority of the Union’s Member
States. Use of alternative sources is growing rapidly across the
Union, supported by a Directive on renewable energy. DG Transport
and Energy’s support for nuclear turns its back on these movements
towards development of a safe and sound energy policy.
In light of these matters we urge you to ensure that Mrs. de Palacio
does not undermine the Council-approved EU position in the UNFCCC
negotiations. In addition, we ask that you insist on a full reconsideration
of the Green Paper’s pro-nuclear bias as it comes up for review.
Sincerely,
Karla Schoeters
Climate Network Europe
Michel Raquet
Greenpeace International
Martin Rocholl
Friends of the Earth Europe
Roger Higman
Friends of the Earth International
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