Hansen misguided about value of nuclear

[GliderGuider]

2. Do energy efficiency initiatives really displace GHG emissions?

Last edited Tue Jul 9, 2013, 12:25 PM - Edit history (1)

On a global level? I'd need some proof to buy that one. They certainly let the global economy expand faster, but as long as the carbon intensity of the global energy mix remains unchanged, improved efficiency doesn't help the emission problem. It s the same concern I have about touting renewables for being displacive rather than additive. According to the CO2 emission records they are not displacing carbon.



The best one can say is that with efficiency improvements we can get more economic activity out of the same amount of energy (which is what's happening) but until the carbon intensity of the energy mix begins to decline, we aren't addressing the actual problem. the actual problem is the rising absolute levels of carbon being pumped into a finite atmosphere.

Just as renewables aren't solving the real problem, neither will nuclear power. In global terms, nuclear power seems a very poor choice because of issues with safety, cost, technological complexity and applicability.

As far as I can see, the only thing that will solve the emissions problem within the time window of the next two or three decades is the involuntary reduction of global economic activity, due to hitting some kind of a limit.