Smiles all round for the Nuclear Institute Young Generation Network (YGN) as they met with Ynys Môn’s MP Virginia Crosbie. On the agenda were discussions around the socio- economic benefits of nuclear energy and how, in collaboration with renewables and other forms of low-carbon energy, nuclear energy can be a part of the solution to achieving Net Zero by 2050. Virginia’s thoughts resonated strongly with the YGN’s own in terms of the strong desire to provide opportunities for young people to shape the future of the nuclear industry. Saralyn Thomas, Vice-Chair of the YGN and International Liaison Lead noted “It was a pleasure to meet with Virginia to discuss the YGN’s work in promoting nuclear energy as a key part of our low-carbon future and influencing policymakers in advance of COP26. We are young volunteers passionate about saving our planet and we are incredibly proud to be working in this industry as we believe it is a key part of our net zero journey, ensuring a bright future for generations to come”.
Highly skilled jobs for local people was also a pivotal part of the discussion, as was the ever- increasing public support for nuclear energy as a climate solution. To support this, the YGN’s international Net Zero Needs Nuclear campaign has produced a scientifically underpinned position paper which outlines why nuclear energy will play a crucial role in meeting our Net Zero target, whilst also contributing to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Picking up on the enthusiasm of the volunteers, Virginia articulated “the benefits provided by nuclear energy to the Government’s levelling up agenda are significant and the successes achieved by the YGN in terms of collaboration and engagement are key to supporting the long-term ambitions of the UK to become carbon-neutral by 2050.”
The YGN is pioneering the UK nuclear industry’s contributions to this year’s climate change summit ‘COP26’ being hosted in Glasgow in November 2021. With almost 3,700 supporters signed up to their Net Zero Needs Nuclear petition and over 100 nuclear societies across the globe endorsing the position paper, the YGN are committed to championing nuclear energy and its essential role in the energy mix. They are calling on negotiators and policy makers who are involved at COP26 to take a science led and technology neutral approach to energy policy and financing that can promote sustainable collaboration between nuclear energy and renewables.