Modern nuclear importance expressed at NEI pre-conference event

In an event sponsored by the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) and hosted by the Christian Science Monitor (CSM), the role of nuclear energy relating to climate change was explored this past week.

“In the Homestretch to Paris Climate Talks” took place on Nov. 3 and featured two speakers: founder and former president of the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions, Eileen Claussen, and executive secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Christiana Figueres.

According to Claussen, nuclear energy sources are a necessary part of plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as they would likely allow the reliability and output capacity needed to ensure energy security and availability.

“It’s hard to believe that we can limit temperature increases, and their associated impacts, without a vastly expanded use of nuclear energy,” Claussen said. “Increased use of nuclear power should be a key consideration in the development and implementation of global commitments and the development of clean power plans.”

Figueres explained at the event that the climate change conference set to take place in December in Paris will be an important step toward limiting the global emissions of greenhouse gasses. She states that approximately 195 countries are expected to sign the agreement that would require action on climate change.

Claussen states that the Clean Power Plan from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is similar to international emission reduction goals.