Cities for a Nuclear Free Europe is an informal network of cities and city leaders who wish to reduce or avoid the risks, dangers and costs of nuclear power in Europe. In 2011 motivated by the Fukushima disaster the City of Vienna took the initiative for a letter to the European Commission to address the risks and costs of nuclear power in Europe. Tests, procedures and regulations are not effective to protect our citizens from the threats of nuclear power. Clean and safe alternatives for the energy supply are available.
Currently Mr. Jürgen Czernohorszky - Executive City Councillor for Climate, Environment, Democracy and Personnel of the City of Vienna is the Chairperson of Cities for Nuclear Free Europe.
Jürgen Czernohorszky has been the Executive City Councillor for Education and Integration in Vienna for 4 years. Before that, he has been a member of the Vienna City Council and the Deputy Chairman of the environmental committee. He is active in several international and environmental city networks (e.g. EUROCITIES). In his current political function, he is not only the Executive Councillor for Environment, but for Climate as well. Therefore, he will actively join the discussion on the often-denied CO2 emissions of nuclear power and the ongoing discussion on the role of nuclear energy in climate action.
The following statement is the basis of our joint work and efforts:
• We consider an immediate Europe-wide moratorium on nuclear power plant constructions (including plants that are already under construction) as necessary.
• All nuclear reactors, which cannot be upgraded to state-of-the-art technology safety standard, must be shut down as soon as possible.
• In a final step all remaining nuclear power plants will have to be replaced by renewable energy power plants.
• Nuclear power plant operators across Europe have to be held unlimitedly liable for the damages of an accident, as any other company and individual is. The liability has to be secured by insurance to the amount of actual damages to be expected (about 250 billion Euros).
• EURATOM funds need to be reduced to support the development of energy efficiency and renewable energy production. Under no circumstances should EURATOM funds flow in the lifetime extension of nuclear power plants, in building new plants or the development of new nuclear reactors.
• Energy from nuclear plants is not carbon free and should not be supported, directly or indirectly, by any European or national funds or support programs.
• The European and national funds for energy must be (re-)directed to the promotion of energy efficient technologies and renewable energy sources (including the necessary energy grids).
• Being aware that nuclear energy still counts for 28 per cent of the electricity consumed in the EU - in individual states significantly more - a well-considered and systematic approach to achieve our goal is required.
• Nuclear energy production is too uncontrollable, too expensive, not effective, comes too late and last but not least, too dangerous to make a contribution to a responsible European energy policy as planned in the European Green Deal.
• We will use our influence as group of European cities to ban nuclear power from Europe to safeguard the safety and health of our population and of the generations to come.
CNFE is always open for more cities to join the network. Please contact the CNFE secretariat for information how to join, office.cnfe@gmail.com