July 6, 2016 – The Canadian nuclear industry says it is pleased North American leaders have included nuclear in their pledge to have 50% of the continent’s electricity produced by “clean sources” by 2025. This goal was announced last week at the North American Leaders’ Summit in Ottawa.

“The Canadian Nuclear Association has long demonstrated that nuclear energy is a low-carbon solution to combat climate change,” said CNA president and CEO John Barrett. “The recent announcement by Prime Minister Trudeau, President Obama and President Pena Nieto is recognition that all low-carbon technologies will be needed to achieve the COP21 Paris Agreement’s goal of limiting average global temperatures to a 1.5-degree Celsius rise.”

“Canada’s nuclear industry is ready to assist in achieving this commitment. Renewable energy sources will contribute to these goals as well, when they are fully integrated into the baseload clean electricity generation and high reliability that nuclear energy provides today,” he added.  

Nuclear reactors provided 60% of Ontario’s electricity last year, and 30% of New Brunswick’s power, according to CAN, making a national contribution of about 15% of Canada’s electricity supply.

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), nuclear energy has avoided 56 Gt of emissions since 1971—equal to nearly two years of global GHG emissions.

A recent IEA study said that a doubling of nuclear-generated electricity by 2040 would help the world to limit the rise in the average global temperature to two degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.