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Greenpeace wins nuclear challenge Greenpeace wins nuclear challenge
(30 minutes later)
Greenpeace has won its High Court bid to make the government rethink its programme to build a new generation of nuclear power stations.Greenpeace has won its High Court bid to make the government rethink its programme to build a new generation of nuclear power stations.
The environmental pressure group argued that ministers had not consulted the public enough on the issue. A judge ruled that the consultation process before making the decision last year had been "seriously flawed" and "procedurally unfair".
Greenpeace said the government should "go back to the drawing board".Greenpeace said the government should "go back to the drawing board".
Ministers claim plans in the Energy Review, published last year - including more nuclear power plants - will cut carbon emissions by millions of tonnes. Ministers claim plans outlined last year, including more nuclear power plants, will cut carbon emissions.
'Updating''Updating'
Greenpeace's Emma Gibson told Sky News that the consultation on nuclear power had been "seriously flawed". Greenpeace's Emma Gibson told Sky News: "The government should be going back to the drawing board and looking at how to meet our energy needs and cut our carbon emissions.
She added: "The government should be going back to the drawing board and looking at how to meet our energy needs and cut our carbon emissions.
"That's not going to be through nuclear power. It's through updating our energy system and increasing our use of renewables.""That's not going to be through nuclear power. It's through updating our energy system and increasing our use of renewables."
In 2003, the government promised the "fullest public consultation" before there would be any future move towards nuclear power. In 2003, an energy white paper described nuclear power as an "unattractive option".
Last year it carried out a public consultation of future energy needs of the UK, which culminated in the Energy Review, which put new nuclear power stations back centre stage. It added: "Before any decision to proceed with the building of new nuclear power stations, there will need to be the fullest possibly public consultation and the publication of a further white paper setting out our proposals."
The government says the proposals in the Energy Review, including building more nuclear plants, will cut carbon emissions by 19 to 25 million tonnes by 2020, compared with projections based on current trends. The government launched a fresh energy review in January 2006, and after public consultation culminated in a report, The Energy Challenge, which said the government thought "new nuclear power stations would make a significant contribution to meeting our energy policy goals".
In court, Greenpeace said the consultation had not fulfilled the promise to carry out "the fullest public consultation".
It complained that there had been a failure to present clear proposals and information on key issues, such as disposal of radioactive waste and building costs.
'Radically wrong'
Trade and Industry Secretary Alistair Darling, contesting the judicial review, argued that the energy review was only part of an ongoing process which would ensure full consultation.
But Mr Justice Sullivan said "something has gone clearly and radically wrong".
The consultation document had given every appearance of being simply an "issues paper".
It had contained no actual proposals and, even if it had, the information given to consultees had been "wholly insufficient for them to make an intelligent response".
The government says its proposals, including building more nuclear plants, will cut carbon emissions by 19 to 25 million tonnes by 2020, compared with projections based on current trends.
In January, Prime Minister Tony Blair said it was important to ensure that the UK had a diverse energy supply, including nuclear power.In January, Prime Minister Tony Blair said it was important to ensure that the UK had a diverse energy supply, including nuclear power.
"If we don't get these decisions right, and get them right quickly, we will pay a very heavy price in the future.""If we don't get these decisions right, and get them right quickly, we will pay a very heavy price in the future."
He added that upcoming decisions about the energy white paper, to be published in March, were "very, very important". A White Paper is expected to be published next month.