Applicability of the Espoo Convention to the Lifetime Extension of Nuclear Power Plants

Many lifetime extensions for nuclear power plants are planned for the coming years. Ecologic Institute supports the German government in negotiations under the Espoo Convention on the question of whether a transboundary environmental impact assessment is required for these lifetime extensions.

The Espoo Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context is an instrument for the participation of affected countries and their public in environmental impact assessment procedures in other countries for activities that may have significant transboundary impacts.

The Conference of the Parties to the Espoo Convention established an ad hoc working group under UK-German leadership in 2017. This ad hoc working group is to prepare a guidance on the applicability of the Espoo Convention to the lifetime extension of nuclear power plants. The guidance will help the Parties decide whether a transboundary environmental impact assessment under the Espoo Convention is required for a planned lifetime extension of a nuclear power plant.

Ecologic Institute supports the German Federal Ministry for the Environment by providing written comments, legal background information, suggestions for the wording for the guidance, as well as by compiling and evaluating individual contributions to the guidance.