The Paris Agreement reached at COP21 in December 2015 marked a historic turning point in the global shift towards a low-carbon economy. Though not yet brought into force, the Agreement is already making shockwaves around the world, including at the World Economic Forum at Davos, where an entire section of the agenda was dedicated to the transformation of energy.
Speaking on the sidelines of the Davos Forum, the Executive Director of the International Energy Agency (IEA) Fatih Birol commented:”If we are to achieve the goals for energy efficiency and renewables that were established at COP21, at least 40% of the world’s energy needs to be generated through zero-emission technologies including nuclear power”.
Despite this statement by the head of IEA, the role and efforts of nuclear companies in securing safety and protecting the environment have been largely underestimated over the years. In fact, far from negligible, the contribution of many nuclear companies to delivering clean energy is based on a long-standing commitment to environmental causes and increasingly advanced technologies for ensuring nuclear safety.
Vladimir Grachev, Coordinator of the Environmental Policy of Rosatom State Atomic Energy Corporation, Doctor of Technical Sciences, professor, corresponding member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Honorary member of PACE comments: “At first, I would like to show my support for Mr. Birol’s, the director of MEA, statement that nuclear energy is a zero emission energy source. Securing environmental protection and ecological safety is an integral part of the mission and development strategy of Rosatom State Atomic Energy Corporation. To ensure the effectiveness of ecological, nuclear and radiation safety and to reduce the environmental impact, we constantly work towards improvement on our environmental policy implementation plan and innovative development of our technological solutions.”
In the course of implementing ecological programmes, the nuclear industry faces numerous challenges around the world. Dealing with them requires significant effort and technical know-how. In 2014, Rosatom invested ca. 33 billion roubles (ca. USD 470 million) in environmental projects, and the figure increases every year.
Alongside this, in order to engage public organisations in the development of policy for the peaceful uses of atomic energy, environmental protection, nuclear and radiation safety, the Public Council of Rosatom State Corporation was founded in 2009. Its key objectives include improving interaction with non-governmental and environmental organisations, and citizens, increasing public awareness of the main corporate business areas, encouraging a dialogue between scientists, experts, representatives of public authorities, and representatives of non-governmental and environmental organisations and associations.
The most important thing, however, is the thoroughly planned environmental policy that has been developed by Rosatom. The environmental policy is akin to a living organism, with its two-way dialogue and concrete control measures that Rosatom has integrated into its business practices.
