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Preamble
Nuclear power is one of the lowest-carbon sources of electricity, as recognized by IPCC and United Nations ECE. A majority of Canadians support using nuclear energy to generate electricity.
Proposal text
Green Party of Canada WILL CEASE BLANKET-OPPOSITION TO NUCLEAR POWER AS A SOURCE OF LOW-CARBON ELECTRICITY PRODUCTION.
Type of Proposal
Public policy that the party would represent.
Objective / Benefit
This resolution is intended to withdraw existing GPC policies which oppose Canada's use of nuclear technologies for non-military purposes. GPC policies which impede nuclear by calling for "renewable" energy shall be updated to replace "renewable" with "clean".
If your proposal replaces an existing policy or policies, which one does it replace?
1996 Foreign Aid - repeal
G06-p11 Enhanced Nuclear Policy - repeal
1998 - Peace and Security - repeal
G08-p012 Nuclear Power - repeal
G10-p31 Carbon Free National Feed-in Tariff - Amend: remove "non-nuclear,"
G08-136 Energy Transition Plan - Amend: change "renewable energy" to "clean energy"
G08-p137 Support of Distributed Electrical Power Grid Research - Amend: change "renewable energy" to "clean energy"
List any supporting evidence for your proposal
United Nations Economic Commission for Europe issued a report comparing not just lifecycle carbon emissions for various electricity sources, but overall impact on the environment and human health. Nuclear power was the single lowest CO2eq /kWh electricity source studied. The single lowest impact on ecosystems. And among the very lowest impact on human health. (CO2: Page 8. Ecosystems: Page 57. Human health: Page 58.) https://unece.org/sed/documents/2021/10/reports/life-cycle-assessment-electricity-generation-options
Our World In Data summarizes a modern assessment of various electricity system's safety and cleanliness. While not as in-depth or recent as UN ECE's study, Our World In Data clearly positioned nuclear in 2020 as one of humanity's safest and cleanest energy sources. https://ourworldindata.org/safest-sources-of-energy
Despite his continued opposition to nuclear power, Dr. Gordon Edwards acknowledges "Low-carbon emitting technologies include solar, wind, hydro and nuclear" in a 2021 briefing paper. https://www.ourcommons.ca/content/Committee/441/ENVI/WebDoc/WD11891319/11891319/RamanaMV-1-e.pdf
In GPC's "Roundtable on Canada's Nuclear Policy" Dr. Gordon Edward observes that splitting atoms for energy does not release carbon. (Excerpt with my commentary:) https://youtu.be/HKIcnbMMdO0?t=24 (Original video:) https://www.facebook.com/GreenPartyofCanada/videos/934857067289154/
The nuclear supply chain for CANDU refurbishments is 98% Canadian. https://www.opg.com/documents/2021-ontario-nuclear-collaboration-report/
This can be contrasted with other low (but not as low as nuclear) carbon energy sources where components are not domestically produced, such as wind turbines: https://open.canada.ca/data/en/dataset/79fdad93-9025-49ad-ba16-c26d718cc070
Nuclear's domestic, Canadian, supply chain still achieves a cost /kWh only beaten by hydropower. https://www.oeb.ca/sites/default/files/rpp-price-report-20211022.pdf
On April 23, 2023, Dr. Chris Keefer debated Dr. Gordon Edwards on the subject of nuclear power in Canada. This was the "Roundtable on Canada's Nuclear Policy" that GPC members might have experienced, if a single pro-nuclear voice had been allowed to participate. https://youtu.be/LvMC8TK025w
Angus Reid Institute finds increasing support from Canadians for nuclear power. In June 2021, 51% of Canadians said they would like to see further development of nuclear power generation. Now 57% say the same. https://angusreid.org/canada-energy-nuclear-power-oil-and-gas-wind-solar/
This 57% of Canadians supporting nuclear matches a similar trend in the United States, where also now 57% support nuclear power. https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2023/08/18/growing-share-of-americans-favor-more-nuclear-power/
Germany serves as a cautionary tale that renewables have not replaced their nuclear fleet. This video details use on online grid monitoring tools to evaluate Elizabeth May's statement (made during COP28) that shutting down nuclear power has "freed up" the grid to accept renewable energy, while not also noting that German grid remains high-carbon, and Germany immediately transitioned (upon the closure of their last nuclear power plants) from being net-exporter of electricity to net-importer of electricity. https://youtu.be/8rcMwmGuGSo
Does this proposal affect any particular group and what efforts have been made to consult with the group or groups?
N/A
Jurisdiction: Is this proposal under federal jurisdiction?
Yes
Please indicate the language the proposal is being submitted in.
English
This proposal is being evaluated
Posted on the Continuous Motion Development Vote tab for member review prior to the all-member vote.
Amendments (3)
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Created at
05/07/2024 -
- 6
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Created at
27/02/2024 -
- 0
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Created at
05/07/2024 -
- 0
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Conversation with Bill William McConnell
I said in an earlier comment "Nuclear energy, as well as fusion and carbon capture, are being promoted by some as magic solutions". I realize that people who say this are not Green Party members. They are people who look for an excuse to do nothing. I should have made that clear.
After considering various arguments pit forward on this topic, I still believe that we should not support construction of new plants. But I also believe that we should not oppose continual operation of existing plants, at least until that power output can be replaced by output from better sources. And we should not oppose research in the topic.
I still believe that resources of capital and labour are better used to create renewable energy sources and to reduce energy consumption..
Bill, thanks for your thoughts on this.
I'd really love to hear someone say they don't like nuclear power, they don't think it is the best bang-for-the-buck, but maybe GPC shouldn't have a policy platform with blanket-opposition to it.
For example our current platform includes: G06-p11 Enhanced Nuclear Policy
("The institution of a global ban on the mining and export of uranium.")
I don't think that is reasonable (existing GPC policy) at all.
It would surely raise carbon emissions it it could ever possibly be implemented.
It would surely give greater market share of Uranium mining to non-democratic nations.
It would surely cost 2,000 people in Saskatchewan their jobs.
(Also, it can't and won't be implemented. Why have a platform containing unachievable goals?)
Let's CLEAN HOUSE with GPC's backlog of impractical and ideological anti-nuclear policies.
They make us look very un-serious about climate change.
Bill, if nuclear is indeed too expensive, then why can't power utilities reach the same conclusion?
Does nuclear need to be outlawed, and uranium mining need to be outlawed, for these supposedly cheaper alternatives to take over?
Existing Policy: 1998 - Peace and Security
("The Canadian Greens would support a nuclear-free policy for Canada which includes: the cessation of exploration for mining of radioactive materials; the shut-down of the nuclear industry including nuclear power plants;")
GPC's EXISTING Platform calls for THE SHUT DOWN of Canadian nuclear power plants.
That is NOT what you want right? That is NOT what I want.
Please consider supporting my policy proposal. I'm NOT saying we have to be pro-nuclear. But our existing policies on nuclear are as anti as possible. They are NOT reasonable.
I will support this policy because it does not call for construction of new nuclear power stations.
Thanks you. -Gord
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