In March 2007, EU leaders accepted a proposal to reduce CO2 emissions by utilising more renewable energy. They have backed a mandatory overall cut in the EU’s CO2 emissions of 20 per cent by 2020, below 1990 levels. The 20 per cent could increase to 30 per cent if other key international players follow suit. It is suggested that they have also accepted a binding target of 20 per cent of all energy to be renewable by 2020. (Note, this is stated as energy and not electricity) Both of these objectives will generate immense challenges, but Tony Blair told the summit that the new targets would not be a burden on business, but an incentive to change direction to meet future global demands. Is there any real prospect of meeting either of these objectives?
Thank you for doing me the honour of inviting me to give this lecture this evening. You certainly know how to torture your lecturers. This could not be a more awkward time for me because we are all in limbo this evening.
Dr Robert Hawley, Chairman of Berkley Resources Ltd and Carron Energy Ltd, UK Nuclear Power in the UK -Past, Present & Future (presented at the 2006 WNA Symposium)
History
The technology stages in the life of the UK nuclear power programme fall into three phases:
1. Magnox 2. Advanced Gas Cooled Reactors 3. The Pressurized Water Reactor
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has rejected nuclear power as a solution to
global warming and has promised a "comprehensive" national
climate-change strategy by Easter.
