Doc. 9717

3 March 2003

Comparison of environmental risks of different energy systems

Motion for a recommendation

presented by Mr Tiuri and others

      In order to mitigate climate change we need to reduce green house gas emissions, which are mainly caused by energy production. According to the Kyoto Protocol (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change), the industrialized countries aim at a reduction of about 5 % of greenhouse gas emission by the year 2010 (2008-2012). In order to stop the climate change to a tolerable level, the emissions in the world must be reduced by at least 50 %.

      The development of energy production systems and the growth of energy use indicate that the fulfillment of the Kyoto Protocol will not be easy. For example, the Green Book of the European Commission indicates that the green house gases of the European Union will be about 5 % higher in 2010 and continue to grow after that. According to the Green Book this is due to decisions of some European countries to abandon nuclear power and because targets for increasing renewable energy sources will not be realized.

      Recent epidemiological studies have confirmed that in addition to climate change, the other main environmental hazard linked to energy production is air pollution due to fine particles. They are caused by combustion power plants and combustion motors. The most recent studies indicate that an annual average increase of fine particles in the air by 10 micrograms per square metre will raise the annual mortality level by 4 %.

      In different European countries the annual average fine particle levels vary from 10 micrograms to many tens of micrograms per cubic metre. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) several hundreds of thousands of Europeans will die each year due to fine particles. The WHO has pointed out that when reducing green house gas emissions, we should also aim at reducing the emission of fine particles.

      In order to make correct decisions regarding energy questions, we need correct information concerning the green house gas emissions and fine particles caused by different energy production methods. For this purpose we have to compare the environmental hazards and risks of the different energy systems.

      Considering the above, the Assembly proposes the Committee of Ministers to prepare recommendations which will ultimately promote a reduction of harmful emissions.

Signed (see overleaf)

Signed : ¹

Tiuri, Finland, EPP

Açikgöz, Turkey, EDG

Ateş, Turkey, SOC

Coifan, Romania, LDR

Fehr, Switzerland, LDR

Grachev, Russia, EPP

Grissemann, Austria, NR

Högmark, Sweden, EPP

Ilaşcu, Romania, NR

Libicki, Poland, EDG

Mincevič, Lithuania, EPP

Poty, Belgium, SOC

Schmied, Switzerland, LDR

Sfyriou, Greece, SOC

Velikov, Bulgaria, NR

¹        SOC: Socialist Group

      EPP: Group of the European People’s Party

      EDG: European Democratic Group

      LDR : Liberal, Democratic and Reformers’ Group

      UEL: Group of the Unified European Left

      NR: not registered in a group