Globally about one third of the greenhouse gases are caused by the production of electricity. In 2004 the worldwide 442 nuclear reactors provided only 16% of the electricity, 6% of the commercial primary energy and 2.5% of the final energy in the world. Nuclear power worldwide generates less electricity than its decentralized no- and low-carbon competitors (renewables and fossil-fueled combined heat and power). In 2004 these rivals added nearly three times as much output as nuclear power added.
Moreover, production of nuclear electricity is not carbon free, as often being claimed.
Apart from the risks (accidents, nuclear weapons, international terrorism, nuclear waste), nuclear energy is not the cheapest possibility to reduce greenhouse gas emissions nor is it the cleanest
Alarm bells ringing, information still lacking
Greens' reaction to yesterday's incident at the Krško nuclear plant in Slovenia und the EU-wide alarm that followed.
Incident at Swedish nuclear plant shows insider terror threat is underestimated
The operator of the Oskarshamn nuclear power plant in Sweden has confirmed that traces of explosives have been found in a contractor's bag and that police investigations are ongoing.
IAEA-EURATOM: Alliance to foster nuclear madness
Representatives of the European Commission and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) signed a potentially far-reaching joint statement on cooperation between the two organisations yesterday.
The ghosts of Soviet Nuclear - Stop Mochovce 3+4!
At the occasion of the 22nd anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster on 26 April 2008, the Greens take part in the international day of action against nuclear energy. The project to complete reactor 3 and 4 in Mochovce, Slovakia is one of our key concern.
"The ghosts of soviet nuclear - The case of Mochovce"
A film commissioned by the Greens/EFA on the investments of the electric company Enel in the completion of the reactor 3 and 4 in Mochovce, Slovakia gives further details of this very dangerous project.The film entitled "THE GHOSTS OF SOVIET NUCLEAR - The case of Mochovce" shows how unsafe, uneconomical, potentially illegal, undemocratic and unsustainable the projects of units 3 and 4 in Mochovce are.
British-French nuclear plans lack sense of reality
During his visit in the United Kingdom the French President Nicolas Sarkozy discussed with Gordon Brown the co-operation on nuclear power between both countries.
One month to go before the international day of action against nuclear
At the occasion of the 22nd anniversary of the Chernobyl catastrophe on 26 April 2008, the Greens will take part in the international day of action against nuclear energy. It will be once more the occasion to show that nuclear is not a solution to climate change.
Greenpeace files a complaint against the Slovakian government
At a common press conference today in Bratislava, Greens/EFA MEP Rebecca Harms, supported the move of Greenpeace to act against the nuclear project in Mochovce. The Environmental Impact Assessment of the project is not in line with the EU rules.
France wants to be prepared for the consequences of a "Tchernobyl" type accident on its territory
More than 20 years after the catastrophe of Chernobyl, French authorities want to set up a "doctrine" on how to deal with the consequences of a nuclear catastrophe. The easiest solution would be to phase out nuclear.
EVENTSBrussels 19.12.2007
A joint roundtable
On 19 December the Greens/EFA co-organise a workshop on nuclear liability regimes. The first part of the event will be dedicated to look at existing liability regimes from different perspectives. The second part of the workshop will focus on the assessment of the impacts and implications of these regimes on the EU energy market.
More infantile leukaemias close to nuclear power plants
A study commissioned by the German federal Office of protection against radiances shows that the leukaemia risk increases significantly for children living close to nuclear power plants.
Commission approval for Bulgarian nuclear plant like Russian roulette
The Greens/EFA in the European Parliament condemned the European Commission's favourable opinion (last week) on the proposal to build a new nuclear power plant at Belene in Bulgaria by Natsionalna Elektricheska Kompania (NEK).
New report highlights nuclear decline in spite of industry talk of renaissance
A new study, presented by the Greens/EFA group, highlights that the nuclear industry is in decline. The proportion of power generation, the number of reactors and the number under construction have all decreased, in contrast to the claims of the industry.
Mochovce 3 and 4: The ghost of Soviet nuclear
The planned completion of the nuclear reactors Mochovce 3 and 4 in Slovakia by the Italian energy utility ENEL contains a lot of problems and question marks.
Strong quake triggeres a fire and a leak of radioactive water at a nuclear power plant
A powerful earthquake shook Japan’s northwestern coast this morning. It killed seven people, injured hundreds others and flattened scores of buildings. The quake affected also the world biggest nuclear power plant in Kashiwazaki with very serious consequences:a leak of radioactive water and a fire at the plant's electrical transformer .
Reactor affected in a nuclear power plant fire in Germany
The fire took place at a nuclear reactor in Krümmel near Hamburg last Thursday. Contrary to previous reports by Vattenfall, the utility company which operates the nuclear plant, the fire did in fact affect the reactor.
New study highlights serious nuclear incidents since Chernobyl
The Greens/EFA group in the European Parliament today presented a new study on accidents in nuclear power plants since the Chernobyl disaster in 1986. The study, which was commissioned by the group, is being presented on the same day as the EP is due to debate a report on assessing 50 years of the Euratom Treaty.
EnergyBrussels 08.05.2007
Summary and conclusions of the study
The Greens/EFA group in the European Parliament today presented a new study on accidents in nuclear power plants since the Chernobyl disaster in 1986. The study, which was commissioned by the group, is being presented on the same day as the EP is due to debate a report on assessing 50 years of the Euratom Treaty.
"The Economics of Nuclear Power", new report commissioned by Greenpeace
The new report says that the construction costs for recent nuclear power plants have gone up as much as 300% over the budget and the average construction time has risen to almost 10 years. It concludes that nuclear power isn't an economically viable solution to climate change.
Stop the construction of the EPR reactor in France!
Today, exactly 21 years after the Chernobyl nuclear accident, Greenpeace activists' from all over Europe occupied the place where the construction of the new EPR reactor in France already started. They managed to stop the work process.
Concerns expressed at proposed nuclear development in Slovakia
In the coming weeks the Italian electricity company ENEL is expected to take a final formal decision on whether to develop an old nuclear reactor in Mochovce, Slovakia, by constructing an additional two outdated blocks. The Greens expressed their deep concerns.
EnergyParis 21.03.2007
Study by consultant Mycle Schneider and commissioned by the Greens/EFA
For many years, nuclear weapons proliferation has remained confined to small expert circles. During the last months, there has been hardly a day without the issue on the front page of the newspapers. The present document attempts to lift some of the smokescreen, correct some of the misconceptions and highlight counter-proliferation approaches (pdf)
EU Commission to receive 630 000 signatures against nuclear
On Friday 23 March, the EU anti-nuclear organisations will give to the Commission a petition calling for an abolition of the Euratom Treaty and a phase out of nuclear power across Europe. The success of this petition confirms the results of the last Eurobarometer poll which clearly shows that the majority of the EU citizens are against nuclear.
Conference proceedings
In the forefront of the 50th anniversary of the EURATOM Treaty, the Greens/EFA in the European Parliament together with the Heinrich Böll Foundation Brussels held an international conference to discuss nuclear safety, nuclear proliferation, the future of the EURATOM Treaty as well as green alternatives.
EnergyBrussels 28.02.2007
40 reasons against nuclear as climate solution
Mankind will not be able to avoid climate change by taking the nuclear route. This technology simply cannot be developed on the scale that is required and in the limited time that is left to save our climate.
Europe has 7 nuclear plants less
The nuclear lobby speaks of a Renaissance of nuclear energy. However, the truth is quite different. Since 1 January 2007 Europe has 7 nuclear reactors less!
European Parliament calls for urgent closure of dangerous nuclear plant in Koslodui
The European Parliament today approved a Green amendment to the report on Bulgaria's accession calling for the closure of Blocks 3 and 4 of the dangerous Koslodui nuclear plant by the end of the year, as consistent with Bulgaria's accession protocol.
Hearing on the prolongation of the lifetime of Chernobyl-type reactors
An open hearing entitled "Another Chernobyl waiting to happen" will take place in the European Parliament on Thursday 5th October. It is organised by Green MEP, Rebecca Harms, and The Bellona Foundation.
Call for transparency over dangerous nuclear clean-up in Hungary
In 2003 the most serious accident in a European nuclear power station since the Chernobyl catastrophe took place in the Hungarian reactor Paks. Several spent fuel elements were broken in a cleaning tank leaving 3.6 tons of uranium pellets at the bottom of the container. Green MEP Rebecca Harms has submitted 5 written questions to the Commission on this matter.
Atomic Tony announces step back in time for UK energy policy
European Green MEPs have condemned the decision by the UK government to develop a new generation of nuclear power plants. The group has called on the Commission to ensure state aid is not used to prop up the nuclear industry, given the obscene costs associated with nuclear energy.
Le Parlement européen, nouveau sherpa du lobby nucléaire
Par son vote en séance plénière le Parlement Européen n'a pas interdit, comme demandé par les Verts, l'exportation de déchets nucléaires vers la Russie qui pourrait devenir la poubelle nucléaire de l'Europe.
Non-EU countries should not be dumping grounds for Europe's radioactive waste
A report on shipments of radioactive waste and nuclear spent fuels will be debated by the plenary of the European Parliament today. The vote will take place tomorrow.
EU research funds to be pumped into the black hole of nuclear power
The European Parliament today voted in plenary session on the 7th Framework Programme (2007-13), including two separate votes on energy research: one on non-nuclear energy and another on nuclear energy alone.
Parliament Committee votes to bankroll nuclear industry research
Greens/EFA strongly condemned the decision of the European Parliament Industry Committee to allocate € 2.7 billion to nuclear energy for the five year period of the 7th Framework Programme for research (FP7).
EU commits billions to white elephant of nuclear fusion
The signing of the international agreement on the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) takes place today in Brussels. This expensive research project will reduce funds for proven and clean energy technology like energy efficiency and renewables!
EnergyStrasbourg 17.05.2006
French authorities seek to suppress key document on the danger of EPR nuclear reactors
The French secret service arrested an anti-nuclear activist for possessing a classified document on the security risks of planned nuclear reactors on 16 May. Concerned at this aggressive suppression of what should be public information, the Greens/EFA group decided to publish the document online.
A 38 year old nuclear power plant is shut down in Spain
The number of operating nuclear reactors in the EU continues to fall after another reactor was closed. On 30 April it was the José Cabrera (Zorita) nuclear plant in Spain which went off line for good.
Tragic lessons from Chernobyl must not be forgotten
On the 20th anniversary of the world's worst nuclear disaster at Chernobyl, Green MEPs have called for glasnost on the extent of Chernobyl's damages. As part of a European Parliament debate, the Greens urged that the lessons of the catastrophe be learned and nuclear power rejected.
Photo Exhibition in the European Parliament on the Chernobyl nuclear disaster
To mark the 20th anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster, the world’s worst nuclear accident, on 26 April 1986, Rebecca Harms on behalf of the Greens/Efa Group in the European Parliament and Greenpeace are organising a photo exhibition (also online) in the EP from 18-21 April 2006.
Nuclear is not the solution!
The Greens publish a short paper on nuclear power which is dangerous, linked to weapons, a terrorist target, dirty, expensive, inefficient, outdated, in decline and unwanted!
Join the anti-EPR international demonstration in Cherbourg, France on 15th April!
Twenty years after the Chernobyl disaster, a great gathering against the boosting of nuclear power will take place on 15th and 16h April in France.
Greens launch new study on the malignant legacy of Chernobyl
Twenty years after the nuclear disaster, an independent scientific evaluation of health and environmental effects provides critical analysis of a recent report of the International Atomic Energy Agency and the World Health Organisation.
One month to go before the 20th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster
During the coming weeks the Greens in the European Parliament and the national Green parties will launch several initiatives to say again that nuclear power is not a solution! Your news section will keep you updated!
Britain may consider building a new generation of nuclear power stations
Nuclear power is not a solution to the energy issue and the challenges of climate change. Several detailed studies were published in the last weeks in the UK to give additional evidence that there are other and better alternatives.
Green proposal to reject nuclear research funding accepted
The European Parliament Environment Committee voted to oppose public funding for EURATOM nuclear research. "We have to prioritise technology that can have an immediate impact on protecting our climate and cutting emissions, namely energy efficiency and renewables", says Finnish Green MEP Satu Hassi.
Nuclear energy is neither a safe energy nor a solution to tackle the climate change. A trip through the frightening nuclear world will explain you why.
