The UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in its third report of the year released after a conference in Ghana focuses on means of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and concludes that nuclear power should be part of the energy mix in reducing the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere. “The use and lifetime extension of nuclear plants” is mentioned as one of the means by which the causes of global warming can be reduced. The report also states that economic benefits could actually exceed the costs of implementing technologies to cut emissions.

The Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) has announced that the climate change talks that were suspended in November 2000 will resume in Bonn from 16-27 July. The chairman Jan Pronk said that: “It is essential that we maintain the political momentum so that all key players are committed to taking early action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.” Officials at the resumed talks will have the benefit of the latest five year scientific and technical assessment from the IPCC.