opinion

Greenpeace rejects the IEA’s reliance on nuclear and carbon capture technologies
by Greenpeace International

The June 6 publication of the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) latest energy forecast, to coincide with the start of the G8 Energy Ministers meeting, should be welcomed for its recognition that half the world’s energy could be supplied by renewable sources by 2050, said Greenpeace. However, the IEA’s vision of increasing nuclear power by a factor of four and relying on carbon capture and storage to meet greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets should be rejected as an expensive and dangerous distraction.

Greenpeace also launched “Energy (R)evolution - A Sustainable Japan Energy Outlook,” which shows how a combination of renewable energy technologies and energy efficiency would provide a cost-effective pathway towards energy security with a minimal impact on the climate system. It demonstrates how Japan could be independent from volatile fossil fuel market fluctuations as well as the dangers of nuclear energy.

“A combination of renewable energy sources and energy efficiency is the smartest, safest and cheapest way to combat climate change and enhance energy security. While Greenpeace’s energy scenario work and the IEAs forecast match in terms of the potential for renewable energy it is clear from our Energy [R]evolution scenario that nuclear power and carbon storage are not needed, and worse they divert funds from genuine climate solutions,” said Sven Teske, energy expert from Greenpeace International and co-author of the study.

According to the Greenpeace scenario, Japan can produce more than 60 percent of its electricity from renewable energy sources by 2050 making the country less dependent on imported fossil fuels and allowing for cheaper electricity. It also calls on the Japanese government to embrace a low-carbon alternative for the development of its energy sector ahead of the G8 energy minister’s conference in Aomori.

"Various types of action in all sectors of society are needed to avert further increase of global warming. For governments a change of energy policy is at the top of agenda” says Manami Suzuki, Energy Expert from Greenpeace Japan. “Greenpeace urges G8 energy ministers to spend more time on how to shift their policies from dirty energy production toward clean and renewable futures.”

"The Japan scenario analyzed in the Energy [R]evolution report not only complies with global CO2 reduction targets but also helps to relieve the economic pressure on society. Increasing energy efficiency and shifting energy supply to renewable energy resources will reduce the long term costs for electricity by as much as 38 percent," concluded Teske.