Center for International Environmental Law · Climate Solutions · Environmental and Energy Study Institute · Friends of the Earth-U.S. · Greenpeace-U.S. · Institute for Policy Studies · Minnesotans for an Energy-Efficient Economy · National Environmental Trust · Natural Resources Defense Council · Nuclear Information and Resource Service · Ozone Action · Physicians for Social Responsibility · Public Citizen's Critical Mass Energy Project · Safe Energy Communication Council · Sierra Club · U.S. Public Interest Group · World Wildlife Fund-U.S.
August 23, 2000
Mr. David Gardiner
Executive Director
White House Climate Change Task Force
734 Jackson Place NW
Washington, DC 20503
Dear Mr. Gardiner,
As you know, the 6th Conference of the Parties to the Climate Change Convention (COP 6) is fast approaching. Among other important issues, COP 6 will decide whether nuclear power projects are eligible for greenhouse gas reduction credits through the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) or Joint Implementation (JI).
We are requesting a meeting prior to COP6 to clarify the Administration's position on including nuclear projects in the CDM and JI. A United States position in support of nuclear power in the CDM would be contrary to official EU policy and the wishes of a number of developing countries. Moreover, it would dampen the grassroots environmental support in the US necessary to ratify the Protocol.
Nuclear power should not be used to address the threat of global warming because it would result in the production of additional radioactive waste; increased safety concerns; proliferation of nuclear power technology, and thereby, weapons proliferation. Nuclear power is neither clean enough, cost-effective enough, nor sustainable enough to be included in the CDM. Additionally, the US would fail to adequately reduce domestic greenhouse gas emissions if given credit for foreign nuclear energy investment; this despite the fact that actual domestic reductions could be cheaply and easily accomplished using renewable energy technologies and energy efficiency. According to congressional testimony by the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE), energy efficiency alone could account for 60 percent of the emissions reduction necessary for the US to meet the Kyoto protocol.
The CDM and JI were intended to promote truly clean projects. They should focus positively on renewable energy technologies, and should specifically exclude unsafe and environmentally polluting technologies like nuclear power.
We look forward to your prompt and positive response. For further information, or to schedule a meeting, please contact Cindy Folkers at NIRS at 328-0002 or
Sincerely,
Anna Aurilio
Legislative Director
U.S. Public Interest Research Group
Dan Becker
Director, Global Warming and Energy Program
Sierra Club
Gary Cook
Director, Climate Campaign
Greenpeace, US
Scott Denman
Executive Director
Safe Energy Communication Council
Jeff Fiedler
Climate Policy Specialist
Natural Resources Defense Council
Donald Goldberg
Director, Climate Program
Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL)
Karen Hopfl-Harris
Associate Director for Policy
Physicians for Social Responsibility
Kalee Kreider
Global Warming Campaign Director
National Environmental Trust
Michael Mariotte
Executive Director
Nuclear Information & Resource Service
Jennifer Morgan
Director, Climate Change Campaign
World Wildlife Fund
Michael Noble
Executive Director
Minnesotans for an Energy-Efficient Economy
John Passacantando
Executive Director
Ozone Action
Jim Riccio
Senior Analyst
Critical Mass Energy & Environment Program
Rhys Roth
Co-Director
Climate Solutions
Jon Sohn
International Policy Analyst
Friends of the Earth-US
Carol Werner
Executive Director
Environmental and Energy Study Institute
Daphne Wysham
Research Fellow
Institute for Policy Studies (IPS)
cc Frank Loy
cc Secretary Richardson
cc David Sandalow
cc Roger Ballentine
cc Dan Bodansky
cc Trigg Tally
cc Jeff Miotke