Fran on Nuclear Energy

Fran O’Sullivan gives a good overview of the nuclear energy debate:

Clark will be displaying a tin ear to the momentous problems faced by polluters such as China and the political sensibilities of the United States and Australia if she opposes the inclusion of nuclear energy among possible alternatives to power sources that arguably have a bigger impact on climate change.

But there is no clause stating that New Zealand should expand the legislation to promote an international stance against using nuclear power for electricity.

Clark says nuclear energy is not something New Zealand will ever tout. But there is a big difference between such touting and conceding that its use by countries such as China, which plans a string of nuclear power stations, can stop their people from choking on pollution from the coal-fired plants that power the world’s factories and also cook the planet.

It will be interesting to see what is agreed, and how it is spun.