Nuclear power is a dangerous distraction from the real solutions to tackling climate change. It is a relic of an out of date, centralised and wasteful energy system and will leave a lethal legacy of radioactive contamination for many thousands of years.
Smaller power stations closer to city will slash emissions and close door on nuclear
Edinburgh could become a world-leader in the fight against climate change according to a new report released today. The study shows that by 'decentralising' its energy generation, the city could slash carbon emissions and increase energy security without resorting to the nuclear option.
Commissioned by the City of Edinburgh Council, WWF Scotland and Greenpeace, the report has been hailed as a blueprint for how cities can beat global warming.
Posted by bex — 8 November 2006 at 9:00am
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The city of Edinburgh is set to become a world-leader in the fight against climate change - a study commissioned by the City of Edinburgh Council, Greenpeace and WWF Scotland, has found that if the city's energy generation was 'decentralised', the city could slash carbon emissions, putting it on track to reach the government's 2050 CO2 reduction targets.
A £10m drive to add wind turbines to public sites and to promote renewable energy is being funded by cuts to other green projects, it has been claimed. The Partnership for Renewables scheme will work with private firms to put the turbines on sites such as hospitals. But the Lib Dems and the Energy Saving Trust say money from insulation and double-glazing schemes will pay for it. The Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said the sum was never allocated to a specific project.
Renewable energy such as wind and solar produces electricity without emitting climate-changing gases, and by using decentralised energy systems which generate heat and power close to our businesses and homes, we can save huge amounts of energy normally wasted by centralised power stations.
Commenting on Royal Society President Lord Rees' call for a new "Apollo project" to fight climate change, Greenpeace campaigner Robin Oakley said:
"Lord Rees is absolutely right to call for massive funding for clean energy research. The Apollo project cost $100bn to put a man on the moon, now we face a fight to save our only planet from the ravages of climate change. The technologies already exist to slash carbon emissions, what is lacking is the political will to implement them. If our leaders invested in low-carbon energy generation on a massive scale, right now, while generously funding research to develop the next generation of technologies, that would be a giant leap for mankind."
In response to the announcement of planning consent for Whitelee, at 332 mega-watts the Europe's biggest ever onshore wind farm, Greenpeace campaigner Charlie Kronick said:
Greenpeace will show David Cameron around an extensive low carbon development in Nydalen, Oslo tomorrow (Friday 21st April). The development complex, which comprises new offices, a hotel, business school and flats, uses borehole heating to warm the buildings in winter and heat storage to cool the buildings in summer. The initiative is believed to be the largest of its kind in Europe and reduces electric or fossil fuel heating needs by 60-70%, substantially reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
A terrorist attack on a routine transport of nuclear waste in the UK could spread radiation over 100 kilometres, and cause over 8,000 deaths, according to an internationally renowned nuclear engineer.
Responding to the release of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority strategy for cleaning up Britain's nuclear sites and news that the cost of dealing with waste is set to rise substantially - Jean McSorley, Greenpeace Nuclear campaigner, said:
"Every time the costs of cleaning up nuclear sites are looked at the cost for the taxpayer spirals. This time it looks like there's another £9 billion for taxpayers to swallow.
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