Paris accords: Nuclear energy must be part of a serious US recommitment

Source: Sweta Chakraborty · THE HILL · | January 27, 2021

Source: GETTY IMAGES

Just days into the Biden administration the world has already witnessed a 180-degree turn on the U.S.’s approach to climate change. 

From starting the process to rejoin the Paris Accord to strengthening vehicle emissions and efficiency standards, Biden has also named appointees across government that they've hit the ground running in implementing his clean energy revolution and environmental justice agenda.

There is a focus on correcting past wrongs, from no longer leasing public lands for oil and gas drilling — to be overseen by the first ever Indigenous woman at a cabinet position, Rep. Deborah Haaland (D-N.M.) as secretary of the Interior — to addressing historic and systemic environmental racism overseen by the first ever Black man, Michael Regan, appointed as the EPA administrator. These appointees comprise of a “climate dream team” that also includes U.S. Climate Envoy John Kerry, all of whom will hopefully and ultimately put forth a strategic climate effort that takes national accountability, updates U.S.’s nationally determined contributions (NDCs) as part of the Paris Accords and leads the world in ensuring the planet doesn’t warm past 1.5 degrees Celsius by the end of the century.

While Biden appears to be keeping to his promise to an administration that resembles the people it is meant to represent, one key issue remains: what is the role of nuclear energy in reaching net zero? I worked closely with the Clean Energy for Biden working group leading up to his electoral victory and it was evident that for many the role of nuclear was a non-starter. While those close to Biden’s climate platform are cheering his appointees, many are questioning how the U.S. will succeed in rejoining and leading the Paris Accords without significant investment and policy support in nuclear energy given it currently provides about 20 percent of the U.S. electricity.