Friendsof the Earth Scotland today (Wednesday 23 May) branded the UKgovernment's decision to support a new generation of nuclear powerstations as a "dangerous distraction" in the fight against climatechange. [1]

TheWhite Paper's publication comes only a few days after it was revealedthat a clear majority of MSPs at Holyrood were opposed to more reactorsin Scotland. [2]

Friends of the Earth Scotland's Chief Executive, Duncan McLaren, said:

"Thisgovernment's obsession with nuclear power is a dangerous distraction inthe fight against climate change. Trying to revive the pollutingnuclear power industry will soak up valuable financial, political andtechnological resources, which could be much better directed at cuttingenergy use and boosting clean renewables.

"Westminstershould learn from the new Scottish Executive, and set out an energystrategy to deliver energy saving, renewable power and cleaner fossilfuel technologies that can then be safely used around the world.

"Nuclearpower is nothing other than a white elephant. Even the government's ownadvisors have said that nuclear power is not the answer to tacklingclimate change or security of supply. [3] To include nuclear power inthe equation prevents a balanced energy policy. As a result, the goodmeasures proposed in the White Paper are all put at risk.

"Scotlandand the UK can meet their targets for tackling climate change whilemaintaining fuel security by using clean, safe alternatives that arealready available.

"Giventhe chance, Scotland has the capacity to be self-sufficient in energyfrom clean renewable sources. [4] Anyone who says the lights will goout in Scotland if we don't build more nuclear reactors is simplyscaremongering."

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS:

[1] MORE EFFICIENT, LOW CARBON AND SECURE ENERGY - Darling publishes Energy White Paper
http://www.gnn.gov.uk/environment/fullDetail.asp?ReleaseID=286525&NewsAreaID
=2&NavigatedFromDepartment=False

[2]The survey found that MSPs who say they are against nuclear poweroutnumber those who said they are in favour by three to one.

http://www.foe-scotland.org.uk/press/pr20070504.html

[3] The government's own advisers, the Sustainable Development Commission,
say that nuclear nuclear power is not the answer to tackling climate change
or security of supply.
http://www.sd-commission.org.uk/pages/scot_nuclear.html

[4]The 'The Power of Scotland' - a joint report by RSPB Scotland, WWFScotland and FoE Scotland - sets out how Scotland could tackle climatechange without the need for nuclear power.

Read the report: http://www.foe-scotland.org.uk/nation/Power_of_Scotland.pdf