Trump zieht die Klima-Notbremse: Nur Europa macht noch weiter | Interview mit Björn Peters

·38 min·3 clips

Donald Trump has reversed US climate policy by declaring CO2 is not a poison gas, removing EPA's authority to regulate it.

The episode begins with the host introducing Donald Trump's decision to reverse US climate policy by declaring CO2 is not a poison gas, thus stripping the EPA of regulatory authority. Guest Björn Peters, an energy policy expert, explains the historical context, noting that Barack Obama used this classification as a trick after failing to pass legislation through Congress. Peters states that US CO2 emissions have been declining for 30 years due to technological advancements, not regulatory measures. He argues that Trump's move leaves Europe as almost the sole proponent of climate protection, with Japan and Australia also shifting toward conservative, economy-first policies. Peters highlights that in Africa and Asia, CO2 reduction is not a priority; instead, governments seek to maximize energy access for economic development. He criticizes Germany's energy policy, pointing to a study showing that the country's climate-neutral scenario would require importing up to 70 gigawatts of electricity, which is unrealistic. Peters discusses the limitations of battery storage, noting it works better with nuclear power than with renewables alone. He advocates for a return to nuclear energy in Germany, proposing a four-step plan: reactivating existing plants, rebuilding available ones, investing in new reactor technologies like Dual Fluid, and pursuing nuclear fusion. Peters estimates reactivation costs at 1-3 billion euros per plant, emphasizing the economic benefits. He addresses nuclear waste concerns, explaining that long-lived isotopes are less dangerous than often portrayed and that separation techniques could reduce storage needs. Peters shares insights from African countries, where governments view nuclear energy as transformative and are adapting their societies to adopt it. He concludes by noting the need for better energy policy narratives in Germany, founded on natural science and economics.

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