| Leading green campaigner backs nuclear | | Print | |
| Thursday, 08 October 2009 | |
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Stephen Tindale, former head of Greenpeace UK and co-founder of the website Climate Answers has backed new nuclear build as part of the UK’s low-carbon future. Talking exclusively to the nuclear news agency, NUCNET Tindale explained why he switched from being anti-nuclear to supporting nuclear energy. In the wide-ranging interview with NUCNET Tindale said opposition to nuclear among environmentalists was less widespread as they came to appreciate how low-carbon nuclear is. “I expected many environmentalists to be very rude to me, and some have been, but not very many. Both Labour and Conservative are in favour of nuclear now.” “I think the UK’s target to get 15 percent of energy generation from renewables by 2020 is essential and must be met, but it’s unlikely that we could get any more than that by 2020. We need to stop arguing about which is the best of the low-carbon options and accept that we need to pursue all of them, including nuclear, and pay for all of them, and that it won’t be cheap.” “It’s important to be up front and honest about the fact that this will mean more expensive electricity generation.” When questioned on his change of stance towards nuclear Tindale was candid about the main reasons. “Melting permafrost in Siberia was yet more confirmation that climate change was more serious than had been thought. That was one major factor that made me switch, but I think the other important point was that the use of electric vehicles is beginning to take off, and should be pursued and promoted. But once we have electric vehicles, then it is even more important to have low carbon electricity, as there will be an increase in demand for electricity in Europe, and worldwide.” When asked about his concerns on radioactive waste, Tindale replied: “I am still concerned about it, but fossil fuels also produce waste. Put crudely, it’s better to keep the waste down here than it is to put it up into the atmosphere. Waste should be kept in a way which is safe from terrorist attack and theft, but also in a way which means it is monitorable and retrievable.” “My view has always been that the main danger or drawback of nuclear energy is weapons proliferation. It’s difficult to say we should have more nuclear power in the UK or Europe, but not in other countries. So the Kissinger-Nunn proposal for an international nuclear fuel cycle – or internationally-controlled nuclear fuel cycle, which President Obama has now picked up and is supporting – is a sensible way forward.” Comments (0)
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