Earth Equity News

Merkel Calls for Slower Nuclear Phase-out in Germany. AFP, July 14, 2008. "[German] Chancellor Angela Merkel issued a contentious call Sunday to slow Germany's planned phase-out of nuclear energy... Germany plans to mothball the last of its 17 nuclear power plants, which emit no carbon dioxide and produce a quarter of the country's electricity, by 2020 under a plan approved under Merkel's predecessor Gerhard Schroeder. But soaring energy costs and pressure to slash CO2 pollution have led conservatives like Merkel to call for a rethink against fierce opposition from their coalition partners, the Social Democrats. 'I will work to ensure the operation of our safe nuclear power plants in Germany is extended,' she [said]. 'I do not believe that we can solve the problem of climate change with atomic energy alone... But we will not be able to ensure our supply for the foreseeable future in a way that protects the climate without atomic energy'... The leader of the Bavarian sister party of Merkel's Christian Democratic Union, Erwin Huber, went further, saying that if the conservatives won next year, they would reverse the plans to outlaw nuclear power. He added he would not rule out Germany building new reactors as is planned in Britain."