Belarusian nuclear power plant expected to help resolve climate problems in Europe

MINSK, 18 December (BelTA) – As an environmental project the Belarusian nuclear power plant will help resolve climate problems in Europe, BelTA learned from Yekaterina Rechits, an analyst with the Belarusian Institute of Strategic Research (BISR), during a regular meeting held as part of the Expert Community project in BelTA's press center on 18 December.

The expert stressed that the Belarusian nuclear power plant fully meets modern requirements of the global community. “It is not just an energy project. It is an environmental one, which allows resolving the problems of climate, greenhouse gas emissions not only in Belarus but Europe as well,” she noted.

Yekaterina Rechits pointed out that in 2019 Belarus occupied a position in the middle of the Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI). The country is ranked 40th out of 60. “Many countries of the European Union are ranked lower. Those are, for instance, Czechia, Slovenia, Bulgaria, and Poland. And the USA is at the bottom,” the BISR representative noted.

Participants of the meeting discussed prospects of upgrading the status of the national ecological forum. This year's event took place in Novogrudok, Grodno Oblast and was the 15th event on record. Yekaterina Rechits suggested it may be a good idea to make the forum international. “It will allow making Belarus' efforts more prominent in the international scene and in the eyes of Belarusians. An image-enhancing move. After all, a lot is being done in the country to preserve the environment,” the analyst said. “We have things to be proud of. Now we have to step up measures to preserve our unique natural legacy for our descendants,” she added. The analyst reminded that Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko mentioned it as he met with students and professors of Belarusian medical universities on 13 December.