Greens – Germany leads the way in phasing out nuclear power

Germany leads the way in phasing out nuclear power

Media Release | Spokesperson Scott Ludlam
Monday 30th May 2011, 8:39pm
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The Australian Greens have welcomed the German government’s decision to completely phase-out the use of nuclear power by 2022. Greens spokesperson on nuclear issues Senator Scott Ludlam said the decision to shut down all 17 of Germany’s reactors was another sign that the nuclear industry was in serious decline worldwide.

German Environment Minister Norbert Roettgen announced the decision today calling it “irreversible”. Senator Ludlam said the centre-right government in Germany “has grasped the facts about nuclear power and has listened to the German people”.

“Germany already sources 18% of its power from renewable energy, and recognises that that growing sector is the way of the future while nuclear power is a dead end.”

Germany’s decision is part of a series of moves by governments around the world to back away from nuclear power or abandon it entirely.

Switzerland has announced a plan to phase out nuclear power by 2034. Under its Energy Strategy 2050 plan, hydroelectric power and other renewable energy sources will be expanded substantially.

On March 16th the Chinese State Council put an embargo on approvals of new reactors.

Italy has announced a one-year freeze on plans to relaunch nuclear power, which is currently banned in that country.

On March 13th the Austrian Environment Minister demanded that nuclear power be phased out across Europe. The European Union agreed on March 25th to conduct ‘stress tests’ at all 143 European power plants and the French President said any French plants that fail will be closed.

Poland will now almost certainly hold a national referendum on the government’s plans to build a nuclear power plant.

The Japanese Prime Minister has closed one additional vulnerable power station, announced a moratorium on new proposals and foreshadowed a complete rewrite of Japanese energy policy.

“Those members of the Labor, Liberal and National parties who advocate nuclear power need to wake up. This discredited, moribund and dangerous industry is finished,” said Senator Ludlam.

Media Contact: Giovanni Torre – 0417 174 302