For me, it's not just about climate change. We need to move towards more advanced energy systems to be able to provide sustainable energy for the modern world, using less resources and producing less waste. We've exhausted technical advancement in chemical energy, hydro, and renewables. The next level of advancement is on the atomic level, because it has the highest potential for energy density and efficiency.

The New Fire tells the story of new and advanced reactors that bring a new face to nuclear energy and have the ability to revitalize the energy generation system. This documentary-in-the-making features these young entrepreneurs (some of which are my friends) and their technologies. 

The documentary is nearly finished and needs your help getting through the last steps before release, support them on Kickstarter here.

British Columbia’s electricity is generated by 98% renewable energy, predominately from hydro. It’s great that they have this vast natural resource but developing countries in arid regions – like South Africa – don’t. Getting to 100% carbon-free generation is not possible with only renewables.
 
Mandy Rambharos (Climate Change and Sustainable Development Manager at Eskom in South Africa) was one of the first people I heard at COP22 to speak pragmatically about climate change and sustainable development issues. South Africa generates over 80% of its electricity from coal. It doesn’t have water resources for hydro; it does have vast coal and uranium resources. The country is still developing and has a 45% unemployment rate. It needs cheap electricity to continue to develop but also realizes the very real threats of climate change. How can developing countries like South Africa manage the competing issues of sustainable development  and climate change?
 
In the delusional policymaking world of COP22, Mandy is a breath of fresh air. She speaks pragmatically about the issues facing developing countries. It’s not just about climate change; it’s also about poverty, clean water, development, jobs, etc. South Africa needs low-carbon AND low-cost solutions for power generation. They are looking at nuclear energy and carbon capture and sequestration – both “unpopular” technologies, according to Mandy.

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change runs the Conference of the Parties and I’m currently at the 22nd conference – hence COP22. The UN and COP have continually ignored the essential contribution that nuclear energy – and other technologies like carbon capture and sequestration – can make in reducing emissions from the energy sector. The UN does not promote specific technologies but allows for the 100% renewable message to be spread, a goal that is not possible for many countries to attain and thus counterproductive to climate change mitigation efforts.
 
The UN also has a set of Sustainable Development Goals, some of which are at odds with climate goals. How can we expect countries like South Africa to develop sustainably without access to cheap electricity? We need to use ALL available technologies to reduce the cost of clean energy. The UN and its member countries need to take leadership roles in advancing all low-carbon technology, including nuclear energy.

-Lenka Kollar