NEI Nuclear Notes

Some interesting movements at the G8 Energy Ministers’ Meeting this week in Rome. The energy ministers of the G8 countries offered their thoughts on nuclear’s role in energy security and emissions reductions. In a joint statement with the European Energy Commissioner, the G8 energy ministers called for international cooperation on nuclear energy: “…We encourage all countries interested in the civil use of nuclear energy to engage in constructive international collaboration. To this end we support international co-operation to ensure the highest possible available technical standards…” In another joint statement from the G8 energy ministers; the European energy commissioner; and the energy ministers of Brazil, China, Egypt, India, South Korea, Mexico, Saudi Arabia and South Africa recognized the importance of nuclear power for “those of us interested.” Perhaps most compelling was an IEA background paper prepared for the conference, “ The Impact of the Financial and Economic...

Back in 1959, director Alain Resnais released a film that has since become a classic. Called Hiroshima Mon Amour, it posited a love affair between a Japanese engineer and a French actress. As the title suggests, the relationship founders on the issue of a defining moment of modern history both western and eastern. No debates, please, and the film is a masterpiece that chokes off debate anyway. In the real world, here comes a different defining moment: The prime ministers of Japan and France said Friday they wanted to put global warming high on the agenda for the Group of Eight summit and hailed nuclear power as a way to reduce carbon emissions. And here's some more: In a joint statement, [French Prime Minister Francois] Fillon and [Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo] Fukuda said they "share the same vision of nuclear energy's paramount role for prosperity and sustainable development in the 21st century." The two countries have chosen nuclear power ...

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From the AP : President Bush, seeking to blunt international criticism of the U.S. record on climate change, on Thursday urged 15 major nations to agree by the end of next year on a global emissions goal for reducing greenhouse gases. Bush called for the first in a series of meetings to begin this fall, bringing together countries identified as major emitters of greenhouse gases blamed for global warming. The list would include the United States, China, India and major European countries. The president outlined his proposal in a speech ahead of next week's summit in Germany of leading industrialized nations, where global warming is to be a major topic and Bush will be on the spot.

We Support Lee says the latest round of G8 negotiations provides an interesting opportunity.