John Barrett, President and CEO of the Canadian Nuclear Association, reports that the deal is done on COP21 in Paris. Now the work begins. How can the world reach the goal agreed in Paris to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees C? Canada can help in a number of ways. First, any plan for low-carbon investments must keep all options open and all low-carbon technologies under consideration. According to the IPCC, low-carbon sources by 2050 must provide 80% of global electricity, up from 30% today, in order to hold back climate change. During the same period, global demand for electricity will double if the basic needs of humanity are to be met. The world therefore needs the full range of low-carbon energy options available today – renewables, nuclear, and fossil fuels with carbon capture and sequestration. Second, it is time to recognize the contribution, current and potential, of nuclear power in curbing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions worldwide. Nuclear energy is already proven to be effective and implementable on a large scale. Today it provides 11% of global electricity and 16% of electricity in Canada. The IEA has calculated that, since 1971, nuclear energy has avoided 56 gigatonnes (Gt) of GHG emissions, equal to nearly two years of global emissions. Accordingly, the pathways with the greatest probability for successfully decarbonizing energy systems require the use of nuclear energy. Third, in tackling the challenge of climate change, why favor one low-carbon technology over another? Last year, for example, nuclear provided 62% of grid-delivered power in Ontario, hydro 24%, and wind 4% (solar was negligible). This nuclear foundation enables solar and wind technologies to integrate progressively into the electricity system. The result ... 90% clean electricity for Ontarians.
Original URL: https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/nuclear-power-is-key-to-decarbonization-and-canada-can-lead-the-way/article27782755/
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