Discussion
Details
In the context of the panel discussion Prof. Dr. Zhang Zitai, professor at the Law School of Fudan University, outlined China’s plans to extend the use of nuclear energy according to the 12th Five-Year-Plan from 2011 to 2015. Until 2015 the construction of another 40 nuclear power plants shall be started. According to Zhang China can not, while being a rising economic power and being the most populated state on earth, exclusively rely on renewable energy. Due to Germany’s leading role in the area alternative energy, he hopes for an even stronger cooperation between both countries in the future.
According to Sun Yang, editor of the “Eco-nomy” magazine, the nuclear catastrophe in Fukushima caused a wave of dismay and anxiety also in China. Nevertheless the People’s Republic maintains its plans for expanding nuclear power and there is a broad consensus within in the population that nuclear power plays a vital role for a secure energy supply for the country.
As a reaction to the nuclear accident in Japan, Germany decided to phase out the use of nuclear power. This confronts Germany, whose energy supply until now depends to one third on nuclear power, with enormous challenges. Johannes Grünhage, senior expert of the German Energy Center & College Shanghai, outlined that the challenges will be enormous, but nevertheless possible to manage. Germany holds the necessary know-how and the financial capacities to carry out the energy turnaround. What is more, the energy consumption in Germany declines steadily due to enhanced energy efficiency. Therefore just a declining percentage has to be compensated by renewable energies. If the revolution in energy supply succeeds in Germany – for the year 2050 a percentage of 80 is projected - the country can achieve a worldwide leading position and other states will be keen to follow the German example.
In the context of the presentation it became evident, which central role the media in China can play regarding the spreading of information about energy- and climate politics. They boost the knowledge about alternative energies and enhance their acceptance within the population. Furthermore they can contribute to sharpen the awareness of every individual for the necessity of energy savings. In this field there is a big potential in China.
But it also became apparent that in a middle term a turnaround in the nuclear policy in China is unlikely. Because of the fast growth of energy consumption, all types of energy sources are promoted. Limiting the pollutant emissions during the generation of energy, will be priority of the future energy policy. The threats of nuclear energy, which in China is still considered to be a clean energy source, will probably remain to be ranked on a lower level in the future Chinese energy policy.
