Jan. 27 (Bloomberg) -- The U.K. needs nuclear power to meet its twin challenges of securing energy supplies and reducing emissions of gases that cause global warming, Prime Minister Tony Blair said.

``I don't think we will tackle climate change'' and energy security ``effectively unless nuclear power is part of it,'' Blair said in Davos, Switzerland, where he's attending the World Economic Forum.

The U.K. government is likely to approve a new generation of nuclear power stations in coming months as the country attempts to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and secure alternatives to fading North Sea oil and gas reserves.

``We are going to move from self sufficiency in gas to importing 90 percent of it,'' he said. Faced with that reality and the need to reduce carbon emissions he said, ``how are we going to do that without nuclear being part of this mix?''

Blair said a new ``climate change bill in the next few weeks'' will allow ``individuals and businesses to help'' reduce emissions.

New technology would help improve nuclear power, he said. In a reference to non-government organizations that say nuclear power is unsafe, he said ``pressure groups have an important role to play but leaders'' must take decisions.

To contact the reporter on this story: Stephen Voss in Davos, Switzerland at sev@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: January 27, 2007 10:12 EST