We must fight the climate change beast with every clean energy tool we have

The pandemic has undoubtedly touched our lives in unmeasurable ways. But the daunting reality is that the pandemic is not the only crisis we face. Climate change continues to loom as one of the biggest crises we will ever face. Rising temperatures, natural disasters, weather extremes, food and water insecurity, increased disease, and economic disruption are just some of the devastating impacts of climate change. According to the World Health Organization, more than seven million deaths are attributed to air pollution alone each year. Globally, around 35 million people are affected by floods and more than two million people are displaced by weather and climate-linked disasters. No one is exempt. Government reports conclude that Canada is warming at twice the average global rate, and a recent study commissioned by the Canadian Nuclear Association (CNA) indicated that 88 per cent of Canadians report being adversely impacted by climate change. The issue of climate change is so mammoth, the reality is we must invest in and leverage a multitude of tools and new technologies if we are to drastically reduce emissions. Not least, we must evolve our energy sources and invest in clean energy technology if we have a chance of meeting Canada’s 2050 net-zero emissions goals. A sentiment that is supported across Canada. Despite the severity of other economic and social issues we face, data indicates that Canadians want decisive action taken to address climate change, including 86 per cent who believe the government should invest in clean technology, such as renewables and nuclear. Renewable energy has a vital role to play, including wind, solar, and hydro. We generate around 16-19 per cent of Canada’s energy from renewables. But this percentage hasn’t shifted over the last two decades. While continued investment is key, it just isn’t feasible to rely solely on renewables in the long-term. Demand for energy is too vast and we must also bear in mind that around 80 per cent of today’s energy demand is still being met by fossil fuels and gas—some of the highest emission industries. This is where nuclear energy must play a vital role as one of the largest contributors of carbon-free electricity—globally and in Canada. Yet we have only scratched the surface of its potential. Nuclear energy is clean. It is the only energy source that delivers carbon-free, reliable energy around the clock. As the government has stated, there is no credible plan that exists to achieve net-zero emissions without nuclear. New nuclear, like SMRs (small nuclear reactors), must work in partnership with renewables if we are to meet Canada’s climate change goals. SMRs are designed to provide reliable, carbon-free electricity with a much smaller land footprint than current reactors. They are often factory-constructed and modular, which means they are easily transported to remote or challenging locations. They can be used to generate clean electricity as well as produce heat for commercial and residential needs. SMRs are also a reliable alternative energy source to diesel in rural locations and can enable a transition to cleaner fuels by decarbonizing the extraction process for oil and gas while producing carbon-free hydrogen. Canada’s nuclear industry is built on more than 65 years of innovation with an exceptional safety track record. Never in Canada—or across the globe—has anyone been harmed or injured by the storage, transportation, or handling of spent fuel. Nuclear also has the unique benefit of being a high-density energy, so very little is required to produce immense amounts of energy with minimal byproducts. If all electricity you used throughout your lifetime came from nuclear energy, the spent fuel would fit into a single pop can. Beyond the irreversible impact on our lives, there is a significant price tag on climate change repercussions. One report from the federal government indicates costs will rise substantially, to between $21- to $43-billion a year by the 2050s. We have a window of opportunity to mitigate the potential catastrophic consequences of this climate crisis. We cannot afford to delay investment in clean energy technology, including SMRs, if we are to preserve the future well-being of our many generations to come. We must fight this beast together with everything we have. Kim E. Rudd is an entrepreneur and former Canadian MP who represented the riding of Northumberland–Peterborough South, Ont., from 2015-2019 and served as parliamentary secretary to the minister of natural resources. Ms. Rudd is a consultant for the Canadian Nuclear Association. The Hill Times

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We must fight the climate change beast with every clean energy tool we have

This is where nuclear energy must play a vital role as one of the largest contributors of carbon-free electricity—globally and in Canada.

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