French President Emmanuel Macron Hopes Australia Lifts Nuclear Ban

France's President Emmanuel Macron speaks during the United Nations climate summit in Dubai on Dec. 1, 2023. LUDOVIC MARIN/AFP via Getty Images

French President Emmanuel Macron has indicated that Australia should lift its ban on nuclear energy to achieve net zero in 2050.

France is one of 22 countries that has signed an international pledge to triple nuclear energy capacity by 2050.

The United States, United Kingdom, Japan, and Canada were also among the countries that have signed the pledge, but not Australia.

Nuclear for Australia founder Will Shackel, a Year 11 student, told Mr. Macron he was from Australia and asked about the role of nuclear energy in global plans to decarbonise.

“I hope that you manage to lift the ban. I mean nuclear energy is a source that necessary to succeed for  carbon neutrality in 2050,” President Macron said.

“So I mean now, with the control of the International Atomic Energy Agency and with the best possible regulation I think this a firm and good decision to re-launch nuclear capabilities. So I wish you the best. Be careful.”

The Coalition has questioned why Australia did not sign the nuclear pledge, signed as part of the global United Nations climate change conference in Dubai.

France, the U.S., the UK, Canada, Czech Republic, Finland, Bulgaria, Ghana, Hungary, Japan, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, and the Republic of Korea have all signed the pledge.

Shadow Climate Change and Energy Minister Ted O'Brien said getting to net-zero requires all technologies to be on the table including zero-emissions nuclear energy.

“Australia has foolishly isolated itself from its AUKUS allies and 20 other nations by refusing to back an international pledge for the tripling of zero-emissions nuclear energy to tackle climate change,” he said.

“Despite turning up to COP28 to report that Australia’s emissions are increasing under Labor’s ’renewables only' policy, [Climate Change and Energy Minister] Chris Bowen is still refusing to listen and learn from other countries that are solving for energy security, affordability, and reliability while driving emissions down.”

Mr. Bowen recently declared nuclear was the “wrong fit for Australia,” claiming replacing coal-fired power with nuclear would cost $387 billion (US$257 billion)

“[We have] 21.3 gigawatts of coal-fired power in the Australian system at the moment. If we were just simply to replace it with nuclear, it would be $387 billion, 71 nuclear reactors spread across Australia,” Mr. Bowen said.

Australia Signs Global Renewable Pledge

Australia signed a global renewable and energy efficiency pledge at the UN climate summit, together with more than 100 countries including the United States, Canada, and Norway.

Participants attend day four at night of the UNFCCC COP28 Climate Conference at Expo City Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on Dec. 3, 2023. Sean Gallup/Getty Images

“We know that renewables are the cleanest and cheapest form of energy—and that energy efficiency can also help drive down bills and emissions,” Mr. Bowen said.

“That’s why the Albanese Government is supporting the UAE’s signature initiative to triple global renewable energy generation capacity and double global average annual energy efficiency improvements by 2030.”

“Australia has the resources and the smarts to help supply the world with clean energy technologies to drive down those emissions while spurring new Australian industry,” he added.