All low-carbon energies including nuclear and renewables necessary to reach Paris agreement’s objectives

Nuclear for Climate, an initiative launched by the French, the American and the European Nuclear Societies and in which FORATOM is actively involved, welcomes the ratification by India, Canada and the European Union of the Paris agreement on climate change paving the way for its entry into force. It is now urgent to develop all low-carbon technologies including nuclear.

The Paris agreement will come into force in a month time since 55 countries representing 55% of global greenhouse gas emissions have ratified it.

This good news shouldn’t hide the fact that the objectives are far from being reached. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), the combination of Government climate action plans submitted during COP21, if implemented, would not limit global warming to 2°C, but rather to 2.7°C. Furthermore, the Paris agreement fixed a more ambitious target of limiting the increase to 1.5°C, which requires much quicker progress.

The challenge is huge and we are running out of time!

Nuclear for Climate brings together 155 associations from 36 countries (China, United States, EU, Russia, Brasil, Canada etc.). It represents scientists and engineers from the nuclear sector, who call for the development of all the low carbon technologies available in a large scale NOW: nuclear and renewables.

Nuclear is a proven low-carbon solution. The amount of CO2 it emits is equivalent to that of wind and according to the IEA, since 1971, nuclear power has avoided the equivalent of two years of total global CO2 emissions at current rates. Nuclear capacity needs to more than double by 2050, up from its current level of around 400 GW to 930 GW. This corresponds to an increase in the share of the global electricity mix from 11 percent to 17 percent.

For further information, please consult the UNFCCC website.