Nuclear power – carbon intensive and environmentally damaging -NOT GREEN – Nuclear Free Local Authorities

NFLAs call on Chancellor not to class nuclear as ‘green’

 – 23 Feb 23,

Fearing the UK Government may – for once – follow an unwanted lead set in Europe, the Chair of UK/Ireland Nuclear Free Local Authorities network has written to the Chancellor of the Exchequer requesting that he refrain for reclassifying nuclear as a ‘green investment’ under revised taxonomy rules.

There has been much speculation in the corridors of power, in the press and amongst the anti-nuclear community that Jeremy Hunt may soon choose to reclassify ‘nuclear’ as a green investment to unlock more private investment in the government’s planned future civil nuclear programme.

A reclassification in the revised taxonomy rules would make such investment more ‘attractive’ and ‘acceptable’ to certain large pension funds and investment companies.
The European Commission has previously adopted an identical strategy, but it was one which met with significant political and societal opposition and led to legal challenges from member states.

In his letter, Councillor Lawrence O’Neill outlines how nuclear power is both carbon-intensive and environmentally damaging. Commenting he said:

“It would be a complete misnomer to describe nuclear as ‘green’. From mining the uranium ore through to dealing with the legacy of radioactive waste, civil nuclear power leaves a massive carbon footprint and contaminates all it touches. The NFLAs hope that the Chancellor will see the logic of leaving things as they are and accede to our request, but if not we shall be ready to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with all those opposed to this change. Nuclear is not ‘green’ and never will be.”

The letter sent to the Chancellor reads::……………………………..  https://www.nuclearpolicy.info/news/nflas-call-on-chancellor-not-to-class-nuclear-as-green/—

February 24, 2023 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | politics, UK