Nuclear must be part of global climate solution, says Rosatom DG

A member of the 4 June panel discussion, Adapting to Climate Change: Challenges and Opportunities, Likhachov said the Russian state nuclear corporation was having "really meaningful discussions" with the Russian government and parliament on the regulation of "green and traditional" industries. "We convey our point of view and they listen to us," he said.

The session was also attended by Deputy Prime Ministers Victoria Abramchenko and Alexander Novak, and Special Presidential Representative on Climate Issues Ruslan Edelgeriyev. The moderator was Ivan Eremin, owner of the Vedomosti newspaper.

Likhachov said experts from European Union countries had this year proved that nuclear energy throughout its entire life cycle is one of the main carbon-free energy sources.

"For the experts, this is a given. The bad news is that it is not a given for the leadership of the European Union," he said.

The "nonsensical" stance of the European Commission towards nuclear energy - the largest single source of low-carbon energy in the EU - risked endangering climate and sustainable development issues, he said.

In Finland, France and Spain, for example, the share of nuclear power in the electricity mix ranges from 25% to 70%, he noted. "Thus, without nuclear energy on the European continent, there is simply no solution to the problem of achieving the UN's global goals in terms of the climate agenda. This must be understood." He added: "It is important to say now that not only Moscow, Beijing, Washington and London support nuclear energy and include it in the future energy mix."

During the session, it was noted that climate change will inevitably affect the development of all sectors of the economy and political decisions, and will create risks for the implementation of investment projects. The mechanisms of adaptation to climate change, which need to be implemented in a 10-year timeframe, were also discussed.