We do not achieve climate goals without nuclear energy

The debate on nuclear energy is back. Last Sunday, Arjen Lubach argued in Sunday with Lubach to get this form of free energy, because the sun and the wind do not deliver enough. "If we want to save the climate, we should really consider nuclear energy as a serious option," Lubach said. He received the support of the VVD faction leader, Klaas Dijkhoff, who declared in Nieuwsuur that we would not achieve the Paris climate goals without nuclear energy: "In this which concerns me, we will start building quickly. " Bart Coenen worked at the Belgian Green Agalev, but converted to econodernism. It is a movement that has confidence in technological solutions to environmental problems. Since then, he is a supporter of nuclear energy. Peer de Rijk has been resistant to nuclear energy since his childhood, particularly at WISE Environmental Organization. They discuss the proposition: without nuclear energy, we will not achieve the climate goals

Bart Coenen is in British Columbia, Peer de Rijk, as PdR

BC: "As a Flemish ecomodist, I am jealous of the Netherlands." nuclear power is finally tradable again, but something is changing in Belgium as well, and a few years ago I felt lonely saying that we needed nuclear energy to fight climate change. was particularly true among the Greens. "

PdR: " The so-called taboo of a discussion on nuclear energy is a strange frame – we have been debating it intensely for decades. on the 2000 climate in The Hague, dozens of nuclear lobbyists have pleaded for a grant to nuclear energy "to save the climate." No Calimero behavior, please, this will not help you not. "

BC: " That's exactly the second complaint that I've i received: I had to be a lobbyist paid by the industry. But in fact, it's like this: after almost twenty years of activity in green organizations, I realized that I had always followed the flock, without thinking of a point of view. To put it briefly, I went from idealistic to realistic. "

PdR: " After fifty years of nuclear energy, where the first and second generation reactors (a few hundred) are almost all supported by public funds, 11% of nuclear power plants contribute to the global energy production. This contribution decreases both in absolute and relative terms. Not so much because the environmental movement is so influential (if only true!), But because nuclear energy has a bad track record; too many incidents, too many financial setbacks, too much pollution in the chain. "

BC: " Now you are too modest. As the development of nuclear energy after the rapid expansion of the 1970s is halted, the environmental movement may well write on its behalf. I can easily bounce the ball. Have you seen the Lubach nuclear power show and this drizzle blade in the pie chart representing green electricity? I think this element was particularly present in the audience. "

PdR: " Modest? Without a doubt. Ambitious? As well. We want to shut down all nuclear power plants as soon as possible. Attention and investment in the atom slow the breakthrough towards a truly clean, safe, endless and affordable energy supply. Lubach's photo was very informative; We have only been working seriously for about five years to boost renewable energy. We have been encouraging nuclear energy tremendously for fifty years now. Did you know that each new plant, of the same type, costs more than the previous one? "

BC: " The Netherlands stopped building after a single nuclear power plant. And in Belgium, we also lost. By no longer building nuclear power plants, many countries risk losing essential knowledge. "

PdR: " Knowledge is beautiful and we will need it to clean up the heavy legacy of nuclear error. But for the climate, all these new theoretical types of nuclear power plants that we dream of dreaming are anyway too late. "

BC: " Do not get me wrong, I'm just as happy about the advances in solar and wind power, I just think it's not going fast enough. Then let's start by looking at whether we can keep the existing plants longer. And fortunately, there is a lot of potential there. I hear about a life span of sixty to eighty years for well maintained power plants. "

PdR: " Climate policy is moving too slowly, partly because we have to constantly talk about perverse solutions. At the same time, the wind and the sun present spectacular figures; both in terms of income and in terms of lower prices. By 2030, our country will use about 70% of the electricity needs, which were then greatly increased, from sustainable sources. It can also be easy if you dare to choose. Your energy policy is – sorry – hopeless. Keeping nuclear power plants open, so no sustainable investments in the power shortage, which is one more reason to keep nuclear power plants open. "

BC: " No one can predict in which technology will the major breakthroughs occur. That's why I advocate investments in science and knowledge development, not excluding technology. Proponents of renewable energy have been talking for so long about technological advances in storage and batteries, but what if they did not happen? "

PdR: " A robust, clean and affordable energy supply can and must be done without nuclear energy. Stupidly because the risks are too big. Little chance, big consequences. What could we have done with the 200 billion euros that Fukushima has already cost? "

BC: " In Belgium, the electricity mix is ​​poor in carbon over three quarters. And this is largely due to our nuclear plants. Belgian scientists – who do not all support nuclear energy – come to similar conclusions: a nuclear output would lead to a sharp increase in CO emissions _[ in our country, so Belgium Would not achieve its climate goals. "

PdR: " It's time to invest! Whether you like it or not, the Belgian nuclear power plants are closed. You can do it in an organized manner or you can still be hit by incidents and rising repair costs. The emission of CO ₂ is regulated in the Paris climate agreement. Belgium will also have to comply with it. Nobody says that's easy. The choice to cope with nuclear energy certainly does not make things any easier. "