WWF head criticises 'economic' nuclear inquiry. 08/06/2006. ABC News Online: "Prime Minister John Howard has been accused of focussing too much on the economics of nuclear power, rather than what can be done in the energy sector to reduce global warming.
Chief executive of environmental group WWF Australia ,Greg Bourne, says he turned down a role on the Prime Minister's nuclear inquiry because its focus is too narrow.
'As far as WWF is concerned, nuclear power is not the solution to climate change,' he said.
'Climate change really is the issue.
'We're not doing enough about reducing our emissions in Australia, not far enough at all, and this really is an inquiry about the economics, it's really a pure economic inquiry.'
Mr Bourne says nuclear power is not the solution to climate change, and it should not become the central issue.
'If the Government were to convene an inquiry into how could we quickly reduce our emissions to 60 per cent below what we currently have by 2050, how could we do that as expeditiously as possible,' he said.
'Then I and a number of others I think would jump at that inquiry.
'But the Government has not been prepared to have that sort of inquiry.'
One of the co-founders of Greenpeace, Patrick Moore, has welcomed the Government's nuclear inquiry.
'[Nuclear energy] does not produce greenhouse gases like the fossil fuels, like coal and natural gas do,' he said.
'It's a no-brainer in a sense in terms of addressing climate change, air pollution and energy requirements for the future.
'So it certainly is about time that we had an intelligent conversation about this subject and got away from the scare tactics and talked science and economics and environment.'
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