Wales can tackle climate change without nuclear power

Reducing the carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions that are causing climate change must be the main aim of energy policy in Wales.

This is the central point being made by Friends of the Earth Cymru in their submission to the Welsh Affairs Select Committee inquiry into energy [1]. Two representatives of Friends of the Earth Cymru, Gordon James and Neil Crumpton, will be giving oral evidence to the committee on Tuesday March 14th between 11.50am and 1.00pm.

In its evidence to the committee, the environmental organisation points out that emissions of CO2 in Wales have risen slightly from 1990 levels despite Assembly Government pledges that they should be reduced.

The group's evidence also shows that CO2 emissions from the electricity sector in Wales could be reduced, while still ensuring security of supply, without the construction of new nuclear power stations.

Gordon James said:

"Scientific evidence is showing that the impacts of climate change are worse than anticipated and are kicking in sooner than expected [2]. Yet, government policies are failing hopelessly to bring about the necessary reductions in the gases that are causing the problem.

"As most of the CO2 is emitted by our use of coal, oil and gas to provide us with energy, a rapid shift away from these fuels to cleaner sources of energy is vital if we are to avoid the catastrophic consequences of a changing climate. We are calling on the Welsh Assembly to give far more support to renewable energy systems, energy saving measures and the more efficient use of fossil fuels.

"We believe that Wales should take a lead role in the energy revolution that is necessary to wean ourselves off fossil fuels in the same way as it took a lead role in the industrial revolution."

Friends of the Earth Cymru totally rejects the call for new nuclear power stations because it believes that they are unsafe, uneconomic, and unnecessary.

The organisation has made ten recommendations to the Select Committee of MPs. These are:

1. The main driver for energy policy in Wales should be the recognition of the crisis of climate change and the need to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

2. That the power of executive competence relating to the promotion of renewable energy, the promotion of energy efficiency, building regulations, power station consents (over 50 MW) and overhead electricity line and gas pipeline consents should be devolved to the Welsh Assembly Government.

3. No new nuclear power stations should be built because the risks far outweigh the benefits and because a range of safer, greener and cleaner alternatives can deliver both greenhouse gas reductions and energy security.

4. Liquified natural gas (LNG) power stations should only be approved if they operate as combined heat and power units and are safely sited at a sufficient distance from existing communities.

5. A limited role for less polluting (rather than 'clean') coal power stations is acceptable.

6. The Welsh Assembly Government should continue to support wind energy, both onshore and offshore, as it can make a substantial contribution to clean and cost effective electricity generation in Wales.

7. Tidal lagoons could make a substantial contribution to the generation of clean and cost effective electricity generation in Wales and should be given more serious consideration by the Welsh Assembly Government.

8. A range of other renewable energy sources, such as bio-fuels and wave power, and microgeneration systems should be supported in order to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

9. The Welsh Assembly Government's Energy Efficiency Action Plan should be redrafted to include targets, timetables for delivery and mechanisms for measuring progress.

10. Responsibility for all energy matters should rest with one minister who should also have responsibility for climate change issues.

Notes

1. The group's evidence to the Welsh Affairs Committee will be available from Friends of the Earth Cymru at 1pm on Tuesday March 14th

2. On August 11th last year, the New Scientist reported that research by scientists from Oxford University and Tomsk State University in Russia had recorded the melting of an area of Siberian bog the size of Germany and France combined and that this threatened to unleash billions of tonnes of methane, a potent greenhouse gas, into the atmosphere. On September 29th, the BBC news website reported that scientists from the National Snow and Ice Data Centre at the University of Colorado had identified a record loss of sea ice in the Arctic indicating that the Arctic has entered an irreversible phase of warming that would accelerate the melting of the polar ice that has helped to keep the climate stable for thousands of years. And in October, scientists from Cranfield University reported in Nature magazine that soils in Britain are no longer acting as carbon sinks but, due to rising temperatures, are releasing huge quantities of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere. All these are regarded as 'tipping points' beyond which change is irreversible.

3. As part of its Big Ask campaign, Friends of the Earth is calling for a new law that would require the government to cut UK carbon dioxide emissions by three per cent every year. The measure has the support of the majority of MPs in the House of Commons. For more information see: http://www.thebigask.com/