An expert warns Germany against making mistakes

Germany is on its own path when it comes to nuclear energy. However, an official in one of the major organizations warns of the consequences of this decision.

Geneva/Munich – Germany has pledged to abandon nuclear energy, but the situation is now different in other industrialized countries: in countries such as France, Sweden Or the United States of America, nuclear energy plays an important role in climate change.

Shortly before the start of the upcoming 28th World Climate Conference in Dubai (from Thursday 30 November), the head of the World Weather Organization (WMO) has recommended that Germany reconsider and reverse the phase-out of nuclear weapons. Petri Taalas explained to the German News Agency that “nuclear energy is a good technology for producing climate-friendly energy.”

Nuclear energy in Germany: Energy transition is not possible without nuclear energy?

The Finnish official believes it is very difficult to strike a balance to phase out coal without nuclear power and continue to produce enough energy at affordable prices. “I would like to call on the Federal Government to reconsider the phase-out of nuclear weapons,” appeals the Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organization. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which falls under the umbrella of the World Meteorological Organization, scientifically analyzes the state of the climate and calls for the use of all non-fossil energy sources to reduce global greenhouse gases. Nuclear energy is an important tool in the energy transition, explains the 62-year-old Finn.

A rethink has also recently taken place at the European level: the EU Commission has now included electricity generated by nuclear power plants as a green energy source in its classification list. Taalas hopes that countries at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP28) in the desert state can announce tougher climate protection measures in order to achieve the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels.

In his opinion, the Federal Republic is threatened by problems due to increased electricity consumption – and some of these problems are already a reality: “If Germany wants to adhere to current energy consumption or produce more, for example for electric mobility, it will do so.” “All of this is quite difficult to do with the sun and the wind,” explains Petri Taalas.

Phasing out nuclear power in 2023 will leave Germany dependent on electricity imports

According to him, this strategy threatens the future of the local business site: the choice is either to buy additional electricity, for example from France, where electricity comes partly from nuclear power plants, or to accept the consequences for the economy. “If energy costs are very high compared to other countries, survival may not be attractive for some industries.”

In April 2023, the last three nuclear reactors in this country (Isar 2, Neckarwestheim 2 and Emsland) were closed – thus completing the phase-out of nuclear energy. The decision was made a long time ago and was motivated by the final disposal of radioactive waste. Explains the Federal Office of Nuclear Waste Safety: “The German Bundestag’s decision on June 30, 2011 to phase out nuclear energy paved the way for an orderly end to high-risk technology in Germany.”