Hansen is a climate change champion, but some question his nuclear credentials

N

ASA scientist James Hansen is heading to COP21 in Paris to berate climate campaigners for failing to support 'safe and environmentally-friendly nuclear power', writes Jim Green. But they would gladly support nuclear power if only it really was safe and environment friendly.

In fact, it's a very dangerous and hugely expensive distraction from the real climate solutions.

James Hansen will be promoting nuclear power - and attacking environmental and anti-nuclear groups - in the lead-up to the UN COP21 climate conference in Paris in December.

The press release announcing Hansen's visit to Paris berates environmentalists for failing to support "safe and environmentally-friendly nuclear power".

Read the Ecologist story - “Don't nuke the climate! James Hansen's nuclear fantasies exposed.”

(The “yes/no” nuclear power argument seems to overlook a fundamental matter – the world community needs to act immediately, before the end of the decade, to simply slow the worsening of carbon dioxide emissions and even with a moon landing-like effort, it would take 10 years to bring a nuclear power plant online, and that is assuming all other complications are resolved.

Climate change waits for no man, nor

 does it pause as we ponder and procrastinate or, in this case build - Robert McLean.)