News
Publish date: March 28, 2007
News
At the meeting of EU heads of governments under German presidency in early March, EU member states agreed on a 20-percent cut in carbon dioxide emissions by 2020. Already in 2000, Germany agreed to phase out nuclear power by 2021, but due to the new EU targets and negative climate reports, conservative politics have suggested prolonging the life spans of existing nuclear power plants in Germany.
According to the study «Climate Protection: Plan B» presented by Greenpeace Germany last week, Germany does not need nuclear power to cut Greenhouse gas emissions. Target of the study was to show a way, how Germany can reach a nuclear power phase out by 2015 and at the same time achieve a cut in carbon dioxide emissions of up to 40 percent by 2020. According to the study Germany has enough resources to reach both goals. An early phase out would even foster renewable energy development and would therefore even help to cut carbon dioxide emissions.
An accident aboard numerous Volgoneft oil tankers in the Kerch in mid December clearly show what can happen to aged ships when they are operated in bad weather—and when economic and military objectives are prioritized over the lives of crews and environmental safety.
In this news digest, we monitor events that impact the environment in the Russian Arctic. Our focus lies in identifying the factors that contribute to pollution and climate change.
A survey of events in the field of nuclear and radiation safety relating to Russia and Ukraine.
A visit last week by Vladimir Putin and a Kremlin entourage to Astana, Kazakhstan sought in part to put Rosatom, Russia’s state nuclear corporation, on good footing with local officials.