Topic: Environmental Impacts of Emerging Energy Technology
Country: Belarus
Delegate Name: Colin Rensch
School: Mattawan High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Belarus position papers GLIMUN 2010 committees
Ukraine has important economic ties to the Russian Federation, as well as the rest of Europe, and gets most of its nuclear energy, oil, and natural gas from the Russian Federation, but also has access to its own oil and natural gas within its borders. Ukraine is very interested in emerging energy technology as a way to reduce the country's consumption of fossil fuels and nuclear energy. Ukraine is also fully aware of the environmental impacts that such technology can pose. New energy technologies pose various threats to wildlife. The safety of birds and bats is greatly affected by wind energy, with 28,500 birds being killed by wind turbines each year. The safety of fish is also at stake in the case of hydroelectric installations in rivers. In many cases, hydroelectric power sites prohibit fish from getting to spawning locations. Hydroelectric power can also flood large areas of land when a dam is used in conjunction with the hydroelectric power station. Ukraine would like to see further scientific research into the reduction of the dangers that these emerging technologies can pose, and the development of new, safer technologies. Ukraine is ready to find solutions in order to protect its rich natural resources, and to further allow the use of these new energy technologies. Ukraine feels that any emerging technology would be safer for the environment than fossil fuels and nuclear energy. Ukraine is very interested in low cost solutions to this problem and will work with this committee to see that solutions are made.
