(ANSA-AFP) - DUBAI, 02 DIC - More than 20 countries called
for the tripling of world nuclear energy capacity at UN climate
talks on Saturday as part of efforts to achieve net-zero
emissions by 2050. A declaration endorsed by nations ranging
from the United States to Ghana to Japan and several European
countries said nuclear energy plays a "key role" in reaching the
goal of carbon neutrality. The use of nuclear energy as a
cleaner alternative to fossil fuels is controversial as
environmental groups are concerned about safety and the disposal
of nuclear waste. "We are not making the argument to anybody
that this is absolutely going to be a sweeping alternative to
every other energy source," US climate envoy John Kerry said at
the COP28 conference in Dubai. "But we know because the science
and the reality of facts and evidence tell us that you can't get
to net zero 2050 without some nuclear," he said. "These are just
scientific realities. No politics involved in this, no ideology
involved in this." The aim is to triple nuclear energy capacity
by 2050 from 2020 levels. The other countries that signed up to
the declaration include Britain, Bulgaria, Canada, the Czech
Republic, Finland, France, Hungary, South Korea, Moldova,
Mongolia, Morocco, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia,
Slovenia, Sweden, Ukraine and the United Arab Emirates. "While
we appreciate that the Biden administration is looking to invest
in alternatives to fossil fuels, we don't have time to waste on
dangerous distractions like nuclear energy," said Jeff Ordower,
North America director at environmental group 350.org. lth/fg
/ (ANSA-AFP).
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