Westinghouse issues statement on Paris Climate Change Conference

Westinghouse Electric Co. issued a statement on Tuesday praising the agreement that was negotiated at the Paris Climate Change Conference that concluded late last week.

Within the agreement reached at the conference are commitments for those countries that sign and ratify it that would facilitate the establishment of measures, legislation and programs that benefit research and development into low-carbon technology and equipment that can counter the anticipated impacts that climate change would have.

Westinghouse said the Paris agreement indicates that a combination of renewable-energy sources such as solar, wind and hydroelectric power will be necessary alongside nuclear generation.

“The road from Paris to a low-carbon, climate-friendly future is long,” Westinghouse President and CEO Danny Roderick said. “The clock is ticking. We need to start work now to implement the global climate deal. Everyone has finally recognized that all low-carbon technologies are needed. Governments must continue the momentum and create stable and supportive national and regional regulatory systems for them. We need to get this right with clear, consistent and workable rules.”

Roderick said the Paris agreement would facilitate the shift from financing carbon-emitting generation methods to other methods that emit less carbon. For this to occur, Roderick said the infrastructure and regulatory framework need to be established.