Climate Change
Nuclear power is counterproductive to efforts to address climate change effectively and in time. Funding diverted to new nuclear power plants deprives real climate change solutions like solar, wind and geothermal energy of essential resources.
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With 142 member nations already signed on, the new International Renewable Energy Agency is promoting a fast, global transition to clean, safe, and renewable energy, writes Alice Slater in the January 21, 2010 edition of Yes magazine.
During the climate negotiations in Copenhagen in December, a proposed exclusion of nuclear power projects from national mitigation plans was removed from the texts. As a result, developing countries are able to include the use of nuclear energy in their list of mitigation actions to be sent to the UNFCCC. Decisions on whether or not nuclear or carbon capture and storage projects could be included in the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) and JI after 2012 were deferred to later meetings.
The Guardian's Jonathan Watts provides a breakdown on what was achieved in Copenhagen and where things fell short.
Renewable Energy magazine sums up the first year of achievements for the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).
January 25, 2010