Clean energy can combat climate change dangers

The dangers that climate change poses to life on our planet are becoming more acute. According to a report by the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), mean global land-sea temperatures have already risen above 1 degree Celsius compared to pre-industrial (1850-1900) levels. It is feared that the earth could pass the 1.5 degree C threshold as early as 2030 if greenhouse gas emissions continue at the current level and measures to reduce CO2 levels continue to remain ineffective.

In the report, released in Incheon in South Korea recently, scientists of the IPCC have warned that a global temperature rise of 1.5 degree C above pre-industrial temperatures would constitute a threshold the planet cannot cross without suffering the worst effects of climate change.

The issue of climate change and its impact is being debated for years, and many countries across the world have already initiated measures to reduce carbon emissions. But the latest report suggests that what is being done presently is not enough, and now “unprecedented” action is needed to prevent rapid global warming. The need is to rise beyond the tough target set in the landmark Paris Climate Agreement, during COP 21.

It has been explained that nations seem to be underestimating what is happening in the atmosphere-ocean-land system as a result of drying land, warming oceans, melting ice, methane release and wildfires. Compared to a 2C scenario, the relatively less damaging threshold of 1.5 degree C would be crossed unless rapid and far-reaching transitions are made without delay in energy generation, industry and transportation. If this is not done, we may well witness a more drastic phase of climate change, with unprecedented rise in sea levels, droughts, extreme weather events and large-scale extinction of species.

The latest report presents a bleak picture of the world's ability to prevent potentially catastrophic impacts of climate change. It also talks about changes in lifestyles needed to enhance mitigation and adaptation options. But all may not be lost. There are measures within the capability of nations to reduce carbon emissions. The Paris Agreement had resolved to mobilize nations to take action to prevent global temperatures from rising by 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels by 2100. Moving forward, at the UN’s annual climate change meeting in Katowice in Poland (COP24), countries will measure their progress against the commitments they made in the Paris Agreement.

The primary cause of climate change is emission of greenhouse gases, primarily carbon dioxide. These emissions need to be reduced by about 45 percent from 2010 levels by 2030. And latest by the year 2050, humans would have to ensure they reach “net zero” carbon emissions, meaning any carbon emitted is offset by measures that remove the greenhouse gas from the atmosphere.

Globally, fossil fuels continue to be the biggest source of energy production and renewable, low-carbon power sources like wind, solar and biomass can neither be developed quickly nor can be scaled up to levels that can truly combat the threat of climate change. The International Energy Agency (IEA) has warned that renewable energy is not being adopted quickly enough to achieve climate and sustainability goals.

At the Paris conference, too, one of the measures agreed upon was to increase the share of clean technologies for power generation, such as nuclear and renewable sources. Technologies of electricity generation that do not dump carbon dioxide in the atmosphere are vital to the success of the agreement. Scientists suggest that rapid expansion of nuclear power globally can significantly help in meeting these goals. According to estimates of the IEA, nuclear energy has already avoided the release of more than 56 giga tonnes (Gt) carbon dioxide since 1971.

Even before the Paris climate accord, India had pledged that 40% of the country’s electricity would come from non-fossil-fuel-based sources by 2030. This makes the role of nuclear power as a source of emissions-free electricity even more crucial. While acknowledging the role of nuclear power in combating global warming, it is often argued that this option carries with it the issues of costs, risks and long-term viability. The alarming situation as forecast in the Incheon report must act as a catalyst to change this perception.

Nuclear energy has been making a remarkable contribution towards the goal of reducing mankind’s carbon footprint. In view of the need to reduce carbon emissions in the coming decades, it is imperative that nuclear power generation plays a vital long-term role in stabilizing the earth’s climate, because of the ultra-low carbon profile of nuclear power, even when considered on entire life-cycle basis.

Nuclear power is a time-tested and proven resource of clean, green and economical electricity to the consumer. Thirty countries in the world are generating nuclear power, including France, the US, Japan, Russia, South Korea and China. Compared with other sources of energy, nuclear power is one of the safest. Millions of people in the developing world still live in poverty, and access to energy can greatly improve their quality of life. Apart from the environmental concerns, even the economics and geo-political issues of fossil fuels must be considered.

Global energy demand will continue to rise, so energy will continue to get more expensive as fossil fuels become more and more difficult to extract. Nuclear energy has been providing electricity at stable and affordable prices and can thus act as a bridge to reduce the gap between demand and supply. It provides low carbon emissions compared to most power sources, including renewables.

For India, nuclear energy can play a very major role in meeting future electricity demands, since we have huge reserves of nuclear fuel thorium, which can provide energy security for the nation sustainably for centuries. On the other hand, the coal reserves are limited in India, our hydroelectricity potential for large dams has been tapped almost entirely, solar and wind power require large land areas in addition to suitable weather conditions.

It is clear that the possibilities offered by nuclear power as a mainstream source of electricity, with round-the-clock availability, can in no way be ignored. India has announced a target of achieving 175 gigawatts of renewable energy by the year 2022. Currently there are 22 nuclear power plants in India, generating 6,780 megawatts (MW) of electricity. Expected increase in installed capacity is 22,480 MW by 2032.

Carbon-free electricity generation is not only desirable for a clean, healthy environment for people, but also for the long-term health of the planet itself. Supporting clean energy options such as nuclear power will go a long way towards directly supporting the Paris climate accord.