IAEA
New York, 11 May 2006
STATEMENT
H.-Holger Rogner
International Atomic Energy Agency
Making a Difference: Interactive Discussions with UN Organizations
Fourteenth Session of the Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD-14)
Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. On behalf of the International Atomic Energy Agency let
me express my appreciation to you and to the Commission for giving me the floor.
Nuclear techniques to diagnose and treat disease, to improve agriculture, to monitor pollution
and to expand water supplies are used by many countries to advance sustainable development.
They are not particularly controversial. Nuclear power is controversial. CSD-9 argued long and
hard about nuclear power. It reached two main conclusions.
First, countries agreed to disagree. The CSD-9 decision notes that some countries view nuclear
power as an important contributor to sustainable development and others do not, and summarizes
the logic of each perspective.
Second, countries agreed that ?The choice of nuclear energy rests with countries.?
The WSSD reinforced CSD-9?s decision and added a positive technology list with ?advanced
energy technologies?, including nuclear power as reported in Paragraph 60 of the Secretary
General?s report to this session.
Those who choose nuclear power as part of their sustainable energy strategies note that nuclear
power broadens the resource base; expands electricity supplies; is ahead of other energy
technologies in internalizing externalities; increases the world?s stock of technological and
human capital; and reduces air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. The full nuclear power
chain, from resource extraction to waste disposal, emits 1-6 grams of carbon per kilowatt-hour,
about the same as wind and solar power and well below coal, oil, and natural gas.
Nuclear power is not a ?fix-all?. It is a choice that has a place among the mix of solutions, and
expectations for the expanding use of nuclear power are rising, driven by growing energy needs
for sustainable development; energy security concerns; nuclear power?s low greenhouse gas
emissions; and the sustained strong performance of modern nuclear plants.
Each country must make its own energy choices; one size does not fit all. But for those countries
interested in making nuclear power part of their sustainable development strategies, it is
important that the nuclear power option be kept open and accessible.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
STATEMENT
H.-Holger Rogner
International Atomic Energy Agency
Making a Difference: Interactive Discussions with UN Organizations
Fourteenth Session of the Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD-14)
Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. On behalf of the International Atomic Energy Agency let
me express my appreciation to you and to the Commission for giving me the floor.
Nuclear techniques to diagnose and treat disease, to improve agriculture, to monitor pollution
and to expand water supplies are used by many countries to advance sustainable development.
They are not particularly controversial. Nuclear power is controversial. CSD-9 argued long and
hard about nuclear power. It reached two main conclusions.
First, countries agreed to disagree. The CSD-9 decision notes that some countries view nuclear
power as an important contributor to sustainable development and others do not, and summarizes
the logic of each perspective.
Second, countries agreed that ?The choice of nuclear energy rests with countries.?
The WSSD reinforced CSD-9?s decision and added a positive technology list with ?advanced
energy technologies?, including nuclear power as reported in Paragraph 60 of the Secretary
General?s report to this session.
Those who choose nuclear power as part of their sustainable energy strategies note that nuclear
power broadens the resource base; expands electricity supplies; is ahead of other energy
technologies in internalizing externalities; increases the world?s stock of technological and
human capital; and reduces air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. The full nuclear power
chain, from resource extraction to waste disposal, emits 1-6 grams of carbon per kilowatt-hour,
about the same as wind and solar power and well below coal, oil, and natural gas.
Nuclear power is not a ?fix-all?. It is a choice that has a place among the mix of solutions, and
expectations for the expanding use of nuclear power are rising, driven by growing energy needs
for sustainable development; energy security concerns; nuclear power?s low greenhouse gas
emissions; and the sustained strong performance of modern nuclear plants.
Each country must make its own energy choices; one size does not fit all. But for those countries
interested in making nuclear power part of their sustainable development strategies, it is
important that the nuclear power option be kept open and accessible.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
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