Blair backs emission cuts but avoids nuclear issue
In response a question at a Number 10 press conference on Tuesday, the British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, acknowledged the real threat of climate change to the stability of the planet and reiterated the government’s commitment to cutting carbon dioxide emissions.
The question was sparked after green guru, James Lovelock, entered the energy debate in the lead front-page story in the Independent newspaper on Monday. He called for “a massive and immediate expansion of nuclear power”, presenting it as the only viable means of reducing greenhouse gas emissions in time.
In order to meet the various emissions targets allocated by respective governments, many governments have set additional targets for energy generated by renewable sources such as wind power. Lovelock said he feared these actions will amount to the classic “too little too late” (see EDEM 8099).
In the light of Professor Lovelock joining the ever-growing group of “green” supporters of nuclear power, Blair was asked if the government and he would revisit the current “energy policy and see that perhaps (your) reliance on renewables is not adequate”.
Blair replied: “Well I’ve just recorded a message earlier today for the Conference on Renewable Energy that is taking place in Germany in a few days time under the Chairmanship of Chancellor Schroeder and we are absolutely committed to cutting carbon dioxide emissions and to ratification of Kyoto.” Blair said he intends to make climate change a key priority at the G8 summit next year in Scotland.
Speaking at the launch of the Climate Group this year, Mr. Blair said that climate change is ‘the single most important long-term issue that we face as a global community”. However, he also warned: “that even if the Kyoto Protocol was implemented, it falls ‘significantly short’ of what is needed over the next 50 years.”
Blair failed to comment on whether he viewed the threat from nuclear energy to be greater or less than that of global warming. FF
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