Net zero pledge follows similar declaration signed by 22 countries
The nuclear energy industry has launched a global campaign that calls for a massive increase in nuclear power and access to financing as part of the fight against climate change.
The Net Zero Nuclear Industry Pledge is part of the Net Zero Nuclear initiative launched in September by the London-based World Nuclear Association and the UAE’s state nuclear company Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (Enec).
The pledge, launched at the Cop28 climate conference in Dubai comes after 22 countries called for nuclear generation capacity to triple by 2050 from a base year of 2020. That pledge was signed at Cop28 on 2 December by countries including the US, Canada, Japan, France, the UK and the UAE.
The industry pledge says nuclear energy has a proven track record of rapid deep decarbonisation and a resilient strategy for achieving net zero should include an increase in the share of electricity provided by nuclear energy. “It therefore needs to grow at a rate faster than the increase in global electricity demand,” the pledge says.
It says nuclear energy capacity should at least triple by 2050 from current level and calls on governments, the World Bank and multilateral development banks to ensure nuclear energy has access to climate finance equal to other clean energy sources.
The Brussels-based nuclear industry group nucleareurope is one of over 100 signatories including nuclear companies, industry groups and utilities.
“Cop28 is a momentous occasion for nuclear,” said nucleareurope director-general Yves Desbazeille. ”For the first time in decades, [EU] member states have joined forces to underline the need for nuclear as a clean source of energy capable of ensuring security of supply.
“This call for a tripling in global nuclear capacity goes hand in hand with the target of 150 GW of nuclear capacity in the EU by 2050 set by the Nuclear Alliance back in May”.
The alliance was set up with 16 European countries that support nuclear power and want policies to support it. Its 150 GW target would be a 50% increase from around up from around 100 GW today.
According to the pledge, the nuclear industry is committed to working with governments, regulators, and other stakeholders to “maximise the contribution from existing operating nuclear power plants and accelerate the pace of new nuclear deployment in a safe, responsible and secure manner”.
Welcoming the pledge, Tom Greatrex, chief executive of the UK Nuclear Industry Association, said: “This pledge from industry shows it is ready to build out nuclear power at scale and pace to hit net zero and secure future energy systems. Governments are committed to ramping up nuclear and we stand ready to help deliver this vital target.”
