Posted on 04/30/2007 8:39:21 AM PDT by grundle
Leading scientists are today expected to back a major expansion of nuclear power as a way of saving the world from global warming.
Other measures in a United Nations report include the use of GM crops to produce biofuels and the "capture and storage" underground of harmful CO2 gases.
More than 2,000 scientists have contributed to the intergovernmental panel on climate change (IPCC) report and 400 of them met today in Bangkok to finalise it before publication on Friday. The report is the biggest to study the practical actions that could reduce emissions and its findings will play a key role in Kyoto negotiations which will take place in December.
The new report is the third this year by the UN climate panel. An IPCC report in February said it was at least 90 per cent certain that mankind was to blame for global warming and on 6 April it warned of more hunger, droughts and rising seas.
"We're moving from two very sobering reports to what we can do about climate change," said Achim Steiner, the head of the UN's environment programme. "And we can do it."
As well as plans for more nuclear power, genetically modified biofuels and carbon storage, the report sets out a vision of the future that is a mixture of existing policies, such as energy efficiency and renewable energy from wind and wave farms, and more futuristic ideas for hydrogen car fleets and "intelligent" buildings which can control energy use.
In addition, the report makes it clear that both developed countries, including the United States, and developing nations, in particular India and China, will have to play major roles.
However, the scientists in Bangkok have already voiced fears that some countries, including China and the US, will say the proposed measures are unrealistic. Michel Petit, a member of the French delegation, said: "Some countries may challenge these figures."
The report has also angered environmentalists. Tony Juniper of Friends of the Earth said: "Nuclear reactors are dangerous and land clearance and chemical pesticides and fertilisers used to grow fuel crops can cause huge environmental damage."
The Sierra Club is mixing the kool-aid, even as we speak.........
CAT bulldozers don't use pesticides.
Uh-oh. Maybe global warming IS real. I always said that when the IPCC and the enviro-whackos call for nuclear power construction, then I’ll believe them. (I figured that they never would.)
In CA our Sen DiFi get fed legislation passed that set aside 10 million acres for turtles that don’t even live in the desert. Last year we had a fire that burned 100,000 acres and not a single house was destroyed because, there were no houses.
Surly between just these two areas we have enough space for plants and refineries. What the government does however is pick a place, generally right next to a school and force residences, people and communities to fight its government.
We should be going gangbusters with developing pebble bed reactors that are standardized, scalable and relatively easily deployable.
Fusion won’t be ready for another 20 or 30 years barring a breakthrough.
Anything to do with the United Nations spells trouble AND building Nuclear Power Stations by committee in third world countries will produce genocide by fiat.........
The irony of the gaia-worshipping cultists endorsing nukes is stunning. When will they start wearing “Nuke the Whales” t-shirts?
Environmentalists, "But we don't want to save the world.......we want to RULE the world!"
hmmm more nuclear power usage? there may be some good to come from this so-called ‘global warming’
If they can build one small enough for a nuke aircraft carrier, why not one in every big city?
If I spend my carbon offsets on nuclear power research, will I still go to heaven?
They had better get started soon. The engineers and engineering managers that built the last crop of nuclear power plants are headed out the door. This country isn’t producing the necessary engineering and technical staff necessary, either. Apparently math and science is just too hard for our students (except for the college students of Asian extraction).
Currently all the steam generators and turbine rotors being replaced at US nuclear power plants are being built in Japan and Europe. The US doesn’t have the capability at the current moment to manufacture the large components necessary.
Most of the current plants will be offline by 2030. This represents app. 20% of the current US commercial power output.
Buy into the uranium mine. Pick a mine where they still allow mining.
I wouldn't blame the educational system or American students ability.
How can an industry keep a technical edge if they aren't allowed to produce new products for 40 years?
So is running with scissors, Tony. Get to the back with the women and children.
Oh, BTW, did we tell you? We're gonna start damming the rivers again--hydroelectric is the most GW-friendly energy to be had. No pesticides!!
Nope, no bias here.....
Or just invest in Fast Breeder Reactor technology, there is enough Uranium above ground already to power the US for 500 years using already mined Uranium tailings.
Even a stopped clock....
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