Greta Thunberg: Germany making 'mistake' by ditching nuclear power for coal

The Swedish climate activist said it would be a "bad idea" for Germany to focus on coal when nuclear power plants were already in place. German politicians looking to extend the running times pounced on the comments.

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Certain German politicians rushed to embrace the comments from climate activist Greta Thunberg

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Climate activist Greta Thunberg told German public television on Tuesday that she would consider it a mistake to switch off existing nuclear power plants and to focus on coal instead to generate electricity.

"It depends. If you have them already running, I feel it's a mistake to close them and focus on coal," Thunberg said on the "Maischberger" talk show on ARD.

"I personally think it's a very bad idea to focus on coal when [nuclear power] is already in place," the climate activist said.

She acknowledged how sensitive the question was among climate activists, calling the issue "a very infected debate."

What's the state of play with German nuclear power?

Germany's longstanding gradual shutdown of nuclear power was originally scheduled to be completed at the end of this year.

However, the war in Ukraine and resultant pressures on fossil fuel exports and electricity prices have cast this policy back into question.

The government has agreed to a limited extension of two of the last nuclear plants' running times by just a few months, covering the coldest winter months. But the opposition and one member of Chancellor Olaf Scholz's ruling coalition are lobbying for a longer extension.

Although it's probably an oversimplification to describe the nuclear shutdown as being compensated by a "focus on coal," the government has separately approved the reactivation of several coal- and oil-burning power plants to secure supply in the winter.

Germany also dug new coal mines while it was in the process of shutting down its nuclear power fleet in recent years. That said, the government has also pledged to phase out coal usage by 2030.

Germany's last nuclear reactors, including Isar 2 in Bavaria, were scheduled to shut down at the end of the year but Ukraine has cast this back into question

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ところで日本、原発の再稼働を画する岸田政権、首相補佐官に息子を起用するなどの公私混同・・・。この国の政治レベルはプーチンと同じくらい稚拙です。あのチグハグのトラベル・キャンペーンも同様です。やることなすことダメお君デス。

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